“The Declaration of Belém has gaps, but it opens the way” – 08/11/2023 – Science and Health

2023-08-11 16:05:00

The signing of the Declaration of Belém by the eight member countries of ACTO (Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization) last Tuesday (8) established a common international agenda for the preservation of the Amazon rainforest. Although it has gaps, the document sets guidelines for the creation of cooperation mechanisms and future objectives.

According to experts consulted by Sheetthe Amazon Summit had among its merits the reactivation of ACTO: the last meeting of the bloc had taken place in 2009. According to Antônio Maués, a professor at the Federal University of Pará, the declaration paves the way for the organization to strengthen itself .

The researcher mentions the commitment to create an Additional Protocol within the treaty, so that the presidents of the member countries, when they meet, can make decisions collectively.

The NGOs that operate in the Amazon affirmed that two important issues were left out of the text: the establishment of deadlines for the reduction of deforestation and the creation of barriers to the exploitation of oil in the region.

Brazil’s Environment and Climate Change magistrate Marina Silva said nations did not make the zero deforestation commitment due to a lack of consensus.

Translated by AZAHARA MARTIN ORTEGA

Read the original article