There is a clear path forward to saving the Amazon—one that includes governments, companies, civil society, scientists, indigenous people and consumers with the support of the international community.
As heads of state prepare to make bold statements about climate change and sustainable development at the upcoming UN General Assembly here in New York, the Amazon region continues to burn. Satellite imagery pinpoints thousands of new fire alerts each week. NASA and the Brazilian Space Agency have warned that the levels of clearing and burning is far higher than in recent years. Politicians are bickering over who is responsible and what needs to be done.
For those of us who have worked in the region for decades, the most frustrating aspect of this political display is that Brazil already knows exactly how to protect the Amazon rainforest. In fact, Brazil is the only tropical country that successfully reduced loss of tropical forests on a huge scale, beginning in the mid-2000s.
Second, we know that protecting Indigenous peoples' territories and the lands of traditional communities, such as rubber tappers and Brazil nut harvesters, is a great way to conserve rainforests. It's also consistent with international human rights law and the wishes of these vulnerable communities. Some Amazonian Indigenous communities have intentionally chosen to completely avoid direct contact with non-Indigenous people.
Foreign governments have been longtime partners with Brazil, Colombia, Peru and other countries in the region, helping to finance efforts to better manage the Amazon. Wealthy nations must greatly increase their support for Amazon conservation, given the global importance of the region in regulating climate and weather patterns. The G7's offer of $22 million is beyond meager in comparison to the $945 million in donations to restore the Notre Dame cathedral after it burned.
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