NEW YORK (November 2, 2021) – The Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA) welcomes The Glasgow Leaders’ Declaration on Forest and Land Use made today at COP26. The SPA as stated in its 2021 Amazon Assessment Report 2021urges decision-makers and all stakeholders to act now and recommends an immediate deforestation moratorium in areas that are already nearing tipping points, and to achieve zero deforestation and forest degradation in the entire Amazon region before 2030. Besides governments commitments, the pledges of companies and industries to eliminate deforestation and forest degradation from their supply chains are of critical relevance. The SPA welcomes the commitment to support Indigenous peoples and local communities in defense of their traditional territories and to conserve and restore natural ecosystems. The SPA also proposes that substantial financial resources are mobilized to advance sustainable pathways for the Amazon, including the implementation of a healthy standing forests and flowing rivers bioeconomy. The SPA Report will be launched on November 12th at COP 26 at 2:00pm (GMT+1) and you can register to attend virtually here.
Background
The Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA) is convened under the auspices of the UN Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN), and was established after the leaders of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Guyana, Ecuador, Peru, and Suriname signed the Leticia Pact for the Amazon, in September 2019. The agreement commits the governments of the seven nations to conserve the Amazon and its biodiverse treasures. It highlights the importance of research, technology, and knowledge management to guide decision-making vis-à-vis the Amazon. The hallmark of the SPA Report is its engagement with multiple voices in the co-design and generation of knowledge. You can read more at www.theamazonwewant.org
SDSN REQUEST FOR INTERVIEWS AND INFORMATION CONTACTS:
Isabella Leite, isabella.leite@unsdsn.org (Portuguese)
Catherine Williams: Catherine.williams@unsdsn.org (Spanish & English)