Leaders in South America propose public-private collaborations for Amazon conservation

Ecuador’s current President, Guillermo Lasso, in conjunction with ex-Presidents Iván Duque of Colombia and Sebastián Piñera of Chile, recently assembled in the Ecuadorian province of Napo.

Their gathering was organized to launch a novel proposition to bolster public-private cooperation aimed at preserving the Amazon jungle.

These leaders, along with other prominent figures from the private sector within the region, convened under the banner of the Concordia Initiative for the Amazon.

This initiative aims to amass resources and formulate projects with a focus on the Amazon’s preservation, protection of the indigenous communities, and a robust fight against unlawful mining activities.

At this gathering, Lasso presented an overview of the environmental policies implemented under his governance, portraying the Amazon as an avenue for conservation opportunities for Ecuador.

Duque, who is at the helm of the Concordia Initiative, elaborated on the ecological interdependencies between the Amazon, Andean forests, and the highly biodiverse Amazon River.

He underscored the need to divert impactful investments towards the protection of this crucial region to attain the goal of zero deforestation.

Duque proposed several mechanisms to encourage steps against deforestation, including the prospect of securing more financial resources than what the illicit activities currently generate.

Piñera accentuated the need for collaboration across different sectors for this cause, advocating for strategies that attach a monetary value to conservation efforts.

This convergence of leaders occurred during a period of political flux in Ecuador.

Lasso had triggered a constitutional clause resulting in the country’s Parliament being disbanded and the declaration of extraordinary elections.

These preemptive legislative and presidential elections are set for August 20, with the victorious candidates expected to complete Lasso’s originally intended term, spanning 2021 to 2025.

Coinciding with these elections, a public referendum will be conducted to decide on halting oil extraction in a portion of the Yasuní National Park, a biosphere reserve in the Ecuadorian Amazon.

Simultaneously, another referendum is planned to prohibit mining activities in the Chocó Andino region, a nature reserve situated northwest of the capital city.

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