Leticia, the capital of Colombia’s Amazon department, will host the event, which will bring together environment ministers from the host country, Brazil, Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela.
According to the announcements, Colombian President Gustavo Petro and Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva will be present at the meeting, which will also include generating inputs, developing strategic conservation measures, establishing joint works and speaking on the Amazon -Summit in Bélem de Pará (Brazil) in August.
Colombian Environment Minister Susana Muhamad explained that participants will discuss how to stop the extractivist frontier of both illegal mining and hydrocarbons being promoted by Amazonian governments.
“Also on the governance of the biome at the level of the eight countries, how civil society, authorities and indigenous knowledge will be involved in creating a comprehensive plan,” he stressed.
Likewise, he added to a local broadcaster, they will analyze the development of a bioeconomy so that the communities of the region can improve their quality of life, but at the same time regenerate the jungle.
The aim of the event is to strengthen the cooperation treaty between nations after 40 years of its establishment and to raise the question of sustainable financing that will allow the jungle to become a climate pillar for humanity.
From Leticia, the minister warned yesterday that if deforestation exceeds 20 percent, the Amazon will reach a point of no return, meaning it will be unable to regenerate.
The minister emphasized that “of this 20 percent, Amazon already has 17 percent.”
The consequences of the destruction or disappearance of the Amazon are unpredictable and would accelerate the climate crisis around the world, he warned.
The Leticia Amazon Summit will bring together the voices and visions of Amazon ministers, the civil sector, indigenous authorities, the private sector, as well as scientists and researchers.
jha/otf