Science By and For the Amazon • IANAS

Events
Science By and For the Amazon

Aug 2-3, 2023
Manaus, Brazil

Science By and For the Amazon

Contents

Introduction

The Inter-American Network of Academies of Sciences and the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC) organized the event in Manaus on August 2-3, 2023, with the aim of generating contributions from the scientific community of the American continent for the Summit of Amazonian Countries. The “Science By and For the Amazon” meeting brought together member academies of IANAS at the National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA) to discuss how to mobilize the scientific community of the Americas to support the development of sustainable solutions for the Amazon region.

The Academies of Sciences of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Venezuela participated, as well as other Academies of Sciences of the Americas and representatives of the scientific communities of French Guiana, Guyana, and Suriname. As a symbol of the importance of traditional peoples in this debate, the meeting opened with the Brazilian National Anthem sung in the Macuxi indigenous language.

The participants included representatives from IANAS, INPA, the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC), the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), the Ministries of Science, Technology and Innovation (MCTI), Environment and Climate Change (MMA), and Foreign Affairs (Itamaraty), the Amazonas Research Support Foundation (FAPEAM), and the World Academy of Sciences (TWAS).

Amazon Initiative

The IANAS Amazon Initiative aims to enhance the visibility of Science as a fundamental tool for building sustainable development solutions for the Amazon. This biome requires collective efforts from all nations around the world, including the countries of the Americas and especially those of the Amazon. IANAS is uniquely positioned to represent and integrate the recommendations from national Science Academies of the region with other leading scientific organizations, such as the Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA) and The World Academy of Sciences Latin America and Caribbean Regional Partner (TWAS-Lacrep).

The Amazon Initiative brings new voices and insights to the regional and global arena, adding to what other government and nongovernmental organizations are already doing in the Amazon. The collective engagement of Academies through IANAS will provide independent, evidence-based advice for policy makers at the local, regional, and global levels on the Amazon and its impact on global environmental changes that affect food and water security, health, biodiversity, and natural disasters, among other pressing concerns.

The Amazon Initiative was launched with a virtual meeting on June 26, 2023, and had as a follow-up the in-person meeting in Manaus, Brazil on August 2-3, 2023.

Manaus Letter

The Manaus Letter was prepared with input from IANAS Member Academies, scientists, and policy makers, the document – available in English, Spanish, and Portuguese – calls for regional collaboration to protect the Amazon, focusing on four areas: the Amazon in the Earth system, human presence and cultural diversity, socio-ecological transformations, and sustainable development.

Manaus Letter (English)

Carta de Manaos (Español)

Carta de Manaus (Português)