Lula: “It is possible to make the forest worth more while standing than cut down”

During his statement to the press after the V Summit of Presidents of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ACT) in Bogotá, Colombia, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva highlighted the approval of a Joint Communiqué in support of the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF). Proposed by Brazil, the mechanism will be launched at COP30 in Belém with the goal of ensuring long-term resources for forest conservation through the mobilization of public and private investments with predictability and justice.

“Today we approved the Joint Communiqué on the Tropical Forests Forever Fund, the TFFF, an initiative we aim to launch in Belém. Through an unpreced

We will arrive together at COP30, bringing Amazonian solutions for climate change and the transition to a new sustainable development model. It is possible to make the forest worth more while standing than cut down"
LUIZ INÁCIO LULA DA SILVA
President of Brazil

PROTECTION AND INCLUSION — The Bogotá Summit provides continuation to the Belém Summit held in 2023, by the initiative of Brazil. Lula noted that, since then, the Amazon countries have strengthened regional cooperation around a development model that unites forest protection and social inclusion. At the Summit, the leaders assessed the commitments taken on at the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) and approved the Bogotá Declaration.

“Today, we assessed the commitments that were made. We know there is a need for collective responses to the challenges shared among the eight Amazon countries,” noted the Brazilian president. Lula highlighted that the Amazon countries face common challenges that require collective answers. In this light, he pointed out that there has been a joint effort throughout the past two years to establish intergovernmental networks in areas such as forest and fire management, water surveillance, and health services. “We will arrive together at COP30, bringing Amazonian solutions for climate change and the transition to a new sustainable development model. It is possible to make the forest worth more while standing than cut down,” he stated.

Lula mentioned the inauguration of the Amazon International Police Cooperation Center, which aims to strengthen actions to counter organized crime and criminal environmental activities, and the establishment of the Amazonian Mechanism for Indigenous Peoples. He also pointed out that the Amazonian Dialogues have been resumed, providing more space for the participation of civil society and traditional communities.

“We are fully aware of the enormous responsibility we have as Amazonian countries. We will continue to work together to prevent Amazon from reaching the point of no return, to combat organized crime, and to ensure dignity for the millions of people who live here,” stated President Lula.

PREPARATION — Lula made a direct appeal to the Amazon countries to unite around the defense of the biome and prepare for COP30. “This COP30 will be the COP of Truth. It will be the COP where people will have to take responsibility for stating whether or not they believe in what science has been telling us, whether or not they believe in the severe changes in weather patterns we have been witnessing every day in each country,” stated the President.

Lula noted that the Amazon countries have the direct responsibility of taking care of the people who live in the Amazon. For this reason, he called for collective responsibility. “We will fulfill each and every commitment we have made, because the Amazon — not the one that is the lungs of the world, or the heart of the world, or whatever they call it. The Amazon is the property of the Amazon countries. We have millions of people who live there, we have Indigenous peoples, anglers, extractivists. It is our responsibility to take care of our people,” highlighted the Brazilian President.

DECLARATION — This was President Lula’s third visit to Colombia during his current administration, after visiting Letícia in June 2023 and Bogotá in April 2024. In addition to Brazil and the host country, the V Summit – held at Casa de Nariño, the official residence of President Gustavo Petro and headquarters of the Colombian Executive Branch – brought together representatives from Bolivia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela, which are part of the treaty.

The documents discussed during the Summit relate, among other things, to the OTCA's succession process and institutional strengthening; the approval of a Strategy for a Sustainable Amazonian Economy; the revision of the Amazonian Strategic Cooperation Agenda; and the establishment of an OTCA financial mechanism.

The program of the V Summit included a meeting of the presidents with representatives from organized civil society and Indigenous peoples, as well as the adoption and publicization of the Bogotá Declaration. The Summit was preceded by meetings of ACTO’s two main instances: the Amazon Cooperation Council, held on Wednesday (August 20); and foreign ministers, on Thursday (August 21).

BELÉM SUMMIT — Held in August 2023, the Belém Summit marked the launch of a joint agenda for the Amazon. The Heads of State defined commitments to protect the biome and the Amazon basin; promote sustainable development with social inclusion; value science, technology, and innovation; stimulate the bioeconomy; and recognize the protagonists of Indigenous peoples and local communities.