Brasília, April 14, 2026. – The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) opened today, at its headquarters in Brasília, the First Extraordinary Meeting of the Amazonian Mechanism of Indigenous Peoples (MAPI), a gathering that brings together government delegates and delegates from the Amazonian Indigenous Peoples of the eight member countries, with the objective of advancing the implementation of this regional forum for dialogue.
During the meeting, which will continue until April 15, the delegations are working to define the key instruments that will guide the functioning of the mechanism in the short term. In this context, progress is being made on approving the Work Plan and its schedule for the 2026–2027 biennium, establishing thematic working groups, defining guidelines for the MAPI Strategy, and beginning the drafting of potential regulations for the Forum of Indigenous Peoples, Local, and Traditional Communities.
This process represents an important step toward strengthening coordination between governments and indigenous peoples in the face of the environmental, social, and climate challenges facing the Amazon.
MAPI provides a space for dialogue and coordination between governments and indigenous peoples at the regional level, with the aim of strengthening their participation in Amazonian Governance. The implementation of MAPI responds to the mandates adopted by member countries with regard to regional cooperation.
During the opening ceremony, Luiz Eloy Terena, Brazil’s Minister of Indigenous Peoples, sent a message to the meeting in which he emphasized the importance of moving toward concrete results that address the demands of Indigenous Peoples. In turn, Angela Amanakwa Kaxuyana, MAPI co-chair for Brazil and representative of the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB), emphasized the importance of this forum for strengthening dialogue and advancing actions aimed at protecting Indigenous territories.
ACTO Secretary-General Martin von Hildebrand pointed out that MAPI represents a significant step forward in regional governance by creating a space for dialogue between governments and indigenous peoples at the Amazonian level.
This session of MAPI is being held with the support of the Fund for the Development of Indigenous Peoples of Latin America and the Caribbean (FILAC).
