Driving Science-Based Solutions for the Region

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 an in-person meeting in Manaus, Brazil on August 2-3, 2023.

SCIENCE BY AND FOR THE AMAZON

The Inter-American Network of Academies of Sciences (IANAS) and the Brazilian Academy of Sciences (ABC) organized the event in Manaus, 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 opening panel 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).

The IANAS Co-Chair and President of ABC, Helena Nader, opened the debate by greeting those present and pointing out the importance of defining actions with immediate practical effects for the biome. “We hope this is not just another meeting. The diagnosis has already been made and the patient is dying. But what difference does the diagnosis make if we don’t unite to save it?” she questioned. Karen Strier, IANAS Co-Chair, noted that the event could serve as an example for other regions: “The Amazon is crucial, and initiatives like this can serve as an example for other biomes”.

Manaus Letter: A Call for Regional Collaboration to Protect the Amazon

The Manaus Letter is a landmark document prepared with contributions from IANAS Member Academies, scientists, and policymakers. It calls for urgent and coordinated regional action to safeguard the Amazon and promote sustainable development. The document outlines four key areas for collaboration: (1) understanding the Amazon within the Earth system, (2) recognizing human presence and cultural diversity, (3) addressing socio-ecological transformations, and (4) advancing sustainable development strategies.

The Manaus Letter consolidates scientific recommendations aimed at guiding policy decisions at local, regional, and global levels. By emphasizing evidence-based solutions and the integration of traditional knowledge, it serves as a roadmap for protecting the Amazon, a biome essential for global climate stability, biodiversity, and human well-being.

Delivering the Manaus Letter at the Amazon Dialogues

Immediately after the Manaus meeting, the focus shifted to Belém do Pará, where the IANAS Co-Chairs, Helena B. Nader and Karen B. Strier, participated in the Amazon Dialogues, held from August 4 to 6, as part of the Amazon Summit. This event brought together civil society organizations, scientists, and policymakers to discuss strategies for sustainable development and climate action in the region.

During the Amazon Dialogues, Helena B. Nader presented the full text of the Manaus Letter and formally delivered the document to Brazil’s Minister of Science, Technology and Innovation, Luciana Santos. The outcomes of the Dialogues were later shared with Heads of State and Government at the Amazon Summit, reinforcing the role of science in shaping policy for the future of the Amazon.