Central Idea

In a landmark move, 8 South American countries have joined forces to address the critical issue of deforestation in the Amazon rainforest at the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organisation (ACTO) summit, hosted by Brazil.
It is intriguing to know that this summit is the first gathering of its kind in 14 years since the group was established.

What is ACTO?

Formation: ACTO is an international organization established to safeguard the Amazon basin and facilitate its sustainable development through international collaboration.
Founding Treaty: The Amazon Cooperation Treaty was crafted and signed on July 3, 1978, by Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela.
Evolution into ACTO: In 1995, these countries formalized their commitment by founding ACTO to actively pursue the objectives set forth in the original treaty.
Multilingual Platform: ACTO operates in four official languages: Dutch, English, Portuguese, and Spanish.

Deforestation: Clearing of land for agriculture, logging, mining, and infrastructure development leads to extensive deforestation, reducing the forest’s size and disrupting ecosystems.
Climate Feedback Loop: Deforestation disrupted the Amazon’s role as a carbon sink, potentially turning it into a carbon source and exacerbating climate change.
Illegal Logging: Unregulated and unsustainable logging practices contribute to deforestation, habitat destruction, and loss of biodiversity.
Indigenous Land Encroachment: Encroachment on indigenous lands and territories disrupts traditional ways of life and cultural practices, impacting both communities and ecosystems.
Forest Fire: Uncontrolled fires, often intentionally set for land clearance, can spread rapidly, destroying vast areas of forest and releasing carbon dioxide into the atmosphere.

Amazonian Management: The ACTO member nations recognize that effective management of the Amazon basin is pivotal for advancing the well-being of its inhabitants.
Programs and Agreements: Collaborative programs and agreements have been established to ensure biodiversity preservation, promote conservation efforts, and manage the region’s resources.
Project GEF Amazonas: Funded by the Global Environment Facility, this program aims to secure agreement on a renewable and integrated water supply for sustainable development.
ACTO Biodiversity Program: This program focuses on maintaining a harmonious biological equilibrium to prevent fragmentation of Amazonian ecosystems.

Key Milestone: The Manaus Declaration (2004)

Purpose: ACTO played a pivotal role in formulating the Manaus Declaration in 2004, which coordinated the development of the vast rainforest area covering approximately 2.9 million square miles.
Commitment Reiteration: The declaration reaffirmed member countries’ dedication to fostering social and economic development in the Amazon while preserving its unique cultures.

The Amazon Rainforest is a tropical rainforest situated in South America, primarily covering the Amazon Basin.
It extends across nine countries: Brazil, Peru, Colombia, Venezuela, Ecuador, Bolivia, Guyana, Suriname, and French Guiana.
Renowned for its unparalleled biodiversity, the Amazon Rainforest harbors around 10% of Earth’s known species, making it one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet.
Encompassing approximately 5.5 million square kilometers, the Amazon Rainforest constitutes over half of the world’s remaining tropical rainforests.
Often referred to as the “lungs of the Earth,” the Amazon Rainforest plays a crucial role in global climate regulation by absorbing carbon dioxide and releasing oxygen through photosynthesis.