By: Lucas Tolentino - Editing: Vincente Tardin
Brazil will invest in cooperation with the other Amazon rainforest nations with a view to stem the greenhouse effect advancement. This position was voiced by the Brazilian Minister of Environment, Izabella Teixeira, on Wednesday (10/12), at the side event held by Brazil at the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change COP20 in Lima, Peru's capital. Held in partnership with the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO), the event “Monitoring of the Amazon Rainforest: a regional endeavor based on the Brazilian experience” had representatives from other federal agencies and from countries such as Bolivia, Ecuador and Suriname. According to Minister Izabella, the intention is to share the initiatives in place in Brazil, like the IT System supporting the Rural Environmental Cadastre (CAR), which is aimed at promoting compliance with the Forest Law in rural properties. She stated that "As it becomes more robust, the CAR will be available to the ACTO countries".
  The Challenge
 
The cooperation already promotes a number of initiatives in the ACTO nations, namely Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela. "The institutional actions shared with the Amazon countries are ongoing, to ensure that the policies in place promote structural progress" said the Minister. "The challenge now is improve these actions and to advance the climate agenda." However, the particularities of each region have to be taken into account. "The Andean countries are engaged with the others in the issues regarding the Amazon," noted the Peruvian Deputy Minister of Environment, Gabriel Quijandría. "But, in each country, you find different situations regarding the economy, social development and even the characteristics of the forest." he pondered. The ACTO Secretary-General, Ambassador Robby Dewnarain Ramlakhan, highlighted the positive effects of the Organization's collaborative work "It is a typical South-South Cooperation example that benefits not only the environment but also the Amazon rainforest peoples, the governments and future generations".
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In October 2013, the Brazilian government signed an agreement with ACTO to share Brazilian technologies to fight deforestation. The partnership includes 23 million Brazilian Reais in investments, with resources from the Amazon Fund managed by the Brazilian National Development Bank (BNDES). Among the activities planned are the implementation of satellite monitoring systems, the establishment of observation and research facilities and trainings on forest cover monitoring.