To identify information gaps on the state of biodiversity and ecosystem services in the Amazon Region, and to dialogue with different researchers, the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) held the Amazon Scientific Workshop.
This technical meeting, which took place on January 24, brought together more than 100 researchers, including authors, coordinators and representatives from the IPBES Assessment Report on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services for the Americas; from the national evaluations for Colombia and Brazil; from the report of the Scientific Panel for the Amazon; and the co-chairs, coordinators, authors, and members of the ACTO Scientific Committee for the Rapid Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Amazon Region.
During the event, the representatives of the different assessments together with the coordinators shared the main results, as well as the experiences and gaps identified in the context of these initiatives.
This information will serve as input for the Rapid Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Amazon Region that is being developed under the ACTO Amazon Region Biodiversity Program.
The initiative is supported by the ACTO Biomaz cooperation project and under the Humboldt Institute of Colombia’s guidance.
The following outcomes stand out: the main information gaps in the Amazonian context were identified, and information on bioprospecting in the region was organized; the added value of the Rapid Assessment being developed by the ACTO was acknowledged; and information exchange mechanisms were identified to enable interaction and information sharing among the authors of the ACTO assessment and the initiatives already implemented.
These conclusions will contribute to the development of the Rapid Assessment on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Amazon and will also support the work of the authors to avoid duplication of efforts and achieve additional value from this initiative.
Rapid Assessment of Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services in the Amazon Region
Currently, ACTO coordinates this Rapid Assessment developed, independently and in a personal capacity, by a team of experts from different disciplines in the region under the conceptual and methodological framework of the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES).
