Belem Declaration

• Eight Amazonian countries were unable to reach an agreement on the protection of the Amazon rainforest during the Amazon Summit organized by the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO).
  • The goal proposed by Colombia to protect 80% of the Amazon from deforestation and degradation by 2025 did not garner unanimous support.
• However, member countries of ACTO signed the Belém Declaration in the Brazilian city of Belém.

About Belem Declaration

• Belém Declaration calls for ensuring participation of Indigenous Peoples in decision-making.
• It promotes sustainable forest use and diverse economic solutions, addressing concerns about deforestation and degradation in the Amazon region.
• Emphasizes the need to protect land rights to prevent deforestation and preserve biodiversity within Indigenous territories.
• It also commits to launching the Amazon Alliance to Combat Deforestation.

About ACTO

• ACTO is an intergovernmental socio-environmental block formed by signing of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty.
• Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela are its
• It is the only socio-environmental block in Latin America.
• Dutch, English, Portuguese, and Spanish are the four official languages.