How can sustainable development be achieved in the amazon rainforest

If the purpose of development is political gain, there can be little hope for regional citizens. Both Amazonian people and forests would benefit if we stopped evaluating development schemes solely in terms of the profits they could generate.

The forests of the Renca are some of the most dense and slow-growing in the Amazon basin. Unless climate change forms part of the decision making process in the region, Brazil will fail to meet its international commitments such as the Paris agreement. Development must also secure constitutional rights for everyone, not just those of the elites.

Local action is often the only defence against the expansion of mining or dams. These alternative approaches are the best way forward in the Renca too. Instead of opening up the area for mining multinationals , Brazil should recognise the rights of local people and empower them to lead decision-making.

This calls for massive regional investment in education, science, and technology. Scientists from the Academy of Sciences have sketched out the public university and research facilities required by this model.

The Amazon could become the starting point for the transition of the Brazilian economy to a low carbon one. This transition implies a long-run shift towards a new low-carbon biotechnological industry, capable of producing low-carbon feedstock, second and third generation biopharmaceuticals, biofuels, and biopolymers.

The central hot spot for this strategy is the Amazon. No low-carbon future could be envisaged to Brazil that would not contemplate stopping deforestation in a very few years. To sustain a zero-deforestation strategy Brazil has to occupy the Amazon with nonintrusive science and technology , replacing soybean plantations and pastures.

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Amazonian countries must develop and implement a plan to save the Amazon — and countries around the world must support this. As consumers of products from deforested areas, the most developed countries have a particular responsibility. Innovation must explore options including developing the forest economy and protecting freshwater fisheries.

People native to the region have managed the Amazon forest for thousands of years, says the Science Panel for the Amazon. Their rights and traditional knowledge and practices must be respected and prioritized. Satellites and other data tools are critical in the real-time monitoring of deforestation, forest fires and other threats to the Amazon.

Data collected on location is also crucial in backing this up. Agriculture, mining and hydropower must be kept within authorized areas and based on clear science. Improving degraded areas by adopting technology and best practices should be prioritized. Products from the Amazon must be produced sustainably. All companies trading or using products originating from the Amazon are responsible for this — including investment funds and banks. If any companies or product lines threaten the viability of the Amazon rainforest, consumers should have access to all information on this.

Where there have been illegal activities, certification measures and sustainable practices should be adopted at scale. Forest restoration plans set out by the Amazonian countries must be prioritized.

New technologies and high-value bio-industries can be leveraged. These include pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, new materials and nutraceuticals — products with health benefits that are derived from food sources, such as nutritional supplements. These must be strictly managed within clear and firm ecological limits. It is an open platform designed to engage anyone who wants to offer a contribution for the global public good.

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