On 13 October 2024, the Amazonia+ Program, with support from the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) and the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), hosted the side event “Amazon Forest Update: A Regional Challenge for COP30” at the 2024 United Nations Biodiversity Conference (CBD COP16) in Cali, Colombia. The session introduced the upcoming Second Regional Report on the Status of Forests in the Amazon Region, which will provide vital updated data on the state of Amazon forests.
"The ongoing collaboration between the Amazonia+ Program, ACTO and FAO exemplifies our shared commitment to safeguarding the Amazon and supporting international cooperation in the region," said Xavier De Lamo, FAO Forestry Officer. "Together, we are forming tangible steps to understanding the challenges these forests face and the actions needed to secure their future."
Addressing a regional challenge in forest conservation
This key event featured a panel discussion on the key challenges facing forests in the Amazon region and the collaborative efforts needed to address them. Pietro Graziani from the Amazonia+ Program opened the session, introducing the panel moderated by FAO’s Maria Chaux Echeverri. The importance of the 2025 report for improving forest governance and promoting sustainable development was emphasized.
Panellists included:
- Carlos Salinas, Environmental Coordinator, Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (OTCA);
- Maria Teresa Becerra, Director of International Cooperation, Colombia’s Ministry of Environment (MADS);
- Glenda Ortega, Deputy Secretary of Natural Heritage, Ecuador’s Ministry of Environment (MAATE); and
- Andreas Brink, Senior Project Officer, EU Joint Research Centre (JRC).
The panel discussed pressing issues such as illegal mining, deforestation and wildfires in the Amazon. The report’s role in strengthening regional cooperation was stressed, along with the need for enhanced forest monitoring through regional data-sharing. In addition, the panellists shared national strategies in fire management and the reduction of deforestation. A Q&A then ensued, focusing on the regional report’s potential impact and the importance of cross-border collaboration for effective forest management. The event ended with a discussion on translating the report’s findings into concrete policies for Amazon conservation.
The Second Regional Report on the Status of Forests in the Amazon Region
The Second Regional Report on the Status of Forests in the Amazon Region will be released in 2025, with support from FAO and the Amazonía+ Program. The report will build on the first report published in 2018 and provide an updated, comprehensive assessment of forest health across the Amazon. Relying on the methodology of FAO’s Global Forest Resources Assessment (FRA), the report will offer insights into forest changes, extent and status in the region.
This report is crucial for informing policies on forest conservation, as it will also contribute to global initiatives like the Sustainable Development Goals, the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework and the Paris Agreement. The findings will be available on the ACTO Amazon Regional Observatory platform, ensuring transparent access to decision-makers, researchers and the public.