SANTIAGO, Chile, Oct 10 (IPS) – The Amazon is at a critical juncture. Despite its abundant biodiversity, cultural wealth and immeasurable ecological value, the country faces serious threats that threaten the future of the country and the communities that depend on it.
High levels of poverty, inequality and environmental problems threaten residents’ progress and their ability to access safe and nutritious food. This vast area, which spans Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela, is not only a source of natural resources but also home to 50 million people and more than 400 indigenous peoples and several traditional communities. Solutions to the Amazon’s challenges must not only come from outside, but must essentially emerge from the heart of the communities themselves. They have the local knowledge and the power to propose actions for a sustainable future. This is where the concept of the Amazon bioeconomy becomes relevant. It aims to utilize the region’s natural resources sustainably and inclusively, for the benefit of the local population. While a promising approach, the path ahead poses several challenges.
Climate risks, deforestation and inequality exacerbate the difficulties in building an economic model that works for both people and nature.
We cannot allow business models to continue that sacrifice biodiversity and natural resources, inevitably leading to irreversible collapse. It is therefore crucial to promote mechanisms that enable sustainable economic development, improve access to food, increase incomes, create jobs and raise living standards. The ‘Amazon Dialogues’ event, organized a year ago by FAO and the Government of Brazil in Belém, opened the door for multiple sectors – academia, civil society, public sector, private sector and indigenous peoples – to discuss how this challenge can be addressed. . As a result, eight countries signed the Belém Declaration, which sets 113 goals to promote sustainable development in the region. The conclusion was clear: the bioeconomy can be a fundamental pillar, but requires a comprehensive and multi-sectoral approach. FAO, together with the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), continues to work to ensure food and nutrition security, reduce poverty and strengthen sustainable value chains in the region through actions aimed at improving productivity , generating public goods and promoting the bioeconomy. prospects for a better future. Through the Hand-in-Hand Initiative, FAO is promoting an investment program with three components: strengthening public goods and policy formulation, ensuring access to digital services and connectivity, and developing sustainable value chains, especially in water basin management and fishing resources.
The Amazon bioeconomy is not just an economic model; it is an opportunity to strengthen our relationship with nature, recognizing the Amazon as a heritage that we must protect and value. Progress on this path requires a cross-sectoral approach involving communities, governments, the private and financial sectors, and academia. We must remain active in forums and dialogue spaces, such as the World Investment Forum 2024, to be held from October 15 to 17 in Rome, Italy, where countries will present their investment programs to financial, public and private entities interested in supporting the development of different value chains. This is a collective effort. Together we can achieve an inclusive transformation of the Amazon biome, protecting its biodiversity and creating more efficient, inclusive, resilient and sustainable agriculture and food systems, leaving no one behind.
Mario Lubetkin is FAO Deputy Director-General and Regional Representative for Latin America and the Caribbean.
IPS UN Office
Follow @IPSNewsUNBureau
Follow IPS News UN Bureau on Instagram
© Inter Press Service (2024) — All rights reservedOriginal source: Inter Press Service