Climate change and biodiversity loss are driving the world's vital ecosystems to the edge, with experts warning that six of nine key planetary boundaries have already been breached. Among the most critical is the Amazon rainforest, a lifeline for our planet.
Covering over eight million square kilometers, Amazonia hosts the largest tropical rainforest on Earth. However, it faces severe threats from environmental crimes like land grabbing and illegal gold mining, alongside extractive industries such as logging, ranching, and soy production. These activities have led to deforestation and significant land degradation, impacting 26% of the region and endangering over 10,000 plant and animal species.
The World Resources Institute warns that if illegal deforestation continues, Amazonia's carbon emissions by 2050 could exceed the Paris Climate Agreement's threshold by five times. This could result in the loss of 57 million hectares of forest—the size of France—triggering dire consequences for the climate, biodiversity, ocean currents, and global food supplies.
To combat these challenges, experts advocate for increasing the economic value of standing forests through the bioeconomy model. Bioeconomy encompasses regenerative agriculture, sustainable timber and non-timber cultivation, renewable energy production, eco-tourism, sustainable fashion, and carbon capture technologies. By creating economic incentives to protect nature, the bioeconomy offers a viable path to decarbonization and conservation.
Interest in the bioeconomy is rising, especially in the Amazon Basin. A recent Pan-Amazonian Conference on Bioeconomy in Belém, Brazil, brought together hundreds of experts from over 100 organizations. The potential economic benefits are substantial, with estimates suggesting that adopting a bioeconomy approach could reduce Brazil's carbon dioxide emissions by 550 million tons and generate $284 billion annually by 2050.
Despite the promise, the shift faces resistance from extractive sectors that benefit from traditional, environmentally harmful practices. Building the bioeconomy requires robust research and development, accessible infrastructure and capital, and resilient supply chains. Additionally, protecting the intellectual property of bioproducts and ensuring respectful knowledge sharing with indigenous communities are essential for sustainable growth.
A critical task is defining the bioeconomy model clearly, as differing interpretations among the eight Amazonian countries can influence the green future's foundation. In partnership with the Inter-American Development Bank's Amazonia Forever program, the Igarape Institute is working to expand the bioeconomy in a way that respects regional diversity and promotes sustainable development.
Reference(s):
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