Virtual event brought together representatives from Amazonian countries and strategic partners to assess progress and future challenges
The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) successfully concluded the project to create the Amazon Regional Platform for Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change with a virtual event attended by representatives from its eight member countries—Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela—alongside key strategic partners.
The initiative, supported by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECLAC), the Spanish Agency for International Development Cooperation (AECID), and German Cooperation GIZ, was developed within the framework of the Euroclima program.
During the event, participants presented the achievements made and discussed the next steps to strengthen Indigenous governance and integrate traditional knowledge into regional climate policies.
Martín Von Hildebrand, Secretary General of ACTO, opened the event by emphasizing the project’s importance for the region:
“This is not just a closure; it is the beginning of a new phase in which Indigenous Peoples must take a central role in decision-making about the Amazon. Throughout this process, we have seen how their knowledge and practices are essential in tackling the climate crisis and protecting forests. ACTO will continue to foster this dialogue to ensure that their rights and perspectives are an integral part of regional and global climate policies.”
An Indigenous Governance Model for the Amazon
Since its creation in 2022, the Platform has focused on three strategic areas: knowledge exchange, consolidating the Platform as a Regional Mechanism, and developing the Amazon Regional Strategy for Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change (ERPICC). This strategy aims to integrate traditional knowledge into public policies and international commitments, such as the Nationally Determined Contributions (NDCs) under the Paris Agreement.
Key Achievements and Lessons Learned
One of the most significant milestones has been conducting national studies in each ACTO member country, analyzing topics such as climate change mitigation and adaptation, Indigenous legislation, and community resilience practices. These studies laid the foundation for the creation of a submodule within the Amazon Regional Observatory (ORA), designed to centralize information on the impact of climate change on Indigenous communities.
During the presentation of results, Freddy Mamani Machaca, ACTO’s Indigenous Peoples Coordinator, highlighted the program’s impact:
“This project has been a crucial step in making visible and strengthening the adaptation and resilience strategies of Indigenous Peoples in the face of climate change.”
International Cooperation and Future Prospects
During the event, strategic partners emphasized the program’s impact and the need to continue efforts for Indigenous governance.
Maria Jarvio, Program Manager at the European Commission, stated:
“Cooperation must continue with even greater strength. We have worked to ensure that Indigenous knowledge is not only recognized but also becomes an integral part of national and regional climate strategies.”
Carlos de Miguel, from ECLAC, highlighted the importance of the Platform as a structural mechanism for the region:
“There are no effective solutions for the Amazon without the participation of its peoples. This program has laid the foundation for their leadership in climate policies.”
Silvia Brugger, Director of the Euroclima program at GIZ, emphasized the complementarity between scientific knowledge and Indigenous wisdom:
“The intersection of these perspectives is key to addressing the climate crisis. This program has created a space to unite these perspectives and strengthen sustainable solutions.”
Sergio Garrido García, from AECID, underscored the program’s most significant achievement:
“The development of the Amazon Regional Strategy for Indigenous Peoples and Climate Change is the most important milestone of this effort. This document establishes a medium- and long-term action framework, ensuring that Indigenous participation in climate policies is not dependent on isolated initiatives but becomes a consolidated public policy in the region.”
Walter Gutiérrez, Co-chair of the Facilitating Working Group of the Platform for Local Communities and Indigenous Peoples, emphasized the need to institutionalize these spaces:
“Significant steps have been taken, but we need States to maintain their commitment and ensure the continuity of these Indigenous governance mechanisms.”
On the Road to COP 30: Strengthening the Indigenous Voice on the Global Climate Agenda
The event also projected the Platform into the future, with a focus on COP 30 on Climate Change, to be held in 2025 in Belém, Brazil. Participants agreed on the need to ensure that Indigenous Peoples’ contributions are recognized in international negotiations and the formulation of public policies for the Amazon region.
As part of this legacy, the event concluded with the virtual photo exhibition For a More Human World, which highlights Indigenous Peoples’ perceptions of their relationship with the Amazon and the environmental challenges they face. Photographer Joyce Anika, winner of the competition, presented her work as a tool for awareness and resistance, showcasing the deep connection between Indigenous communities and their territories.
