Leaders pledge unity on deforestation, organized crime, and indigenous rights as Ecuador prepares to host 2027 summit

Bogotá Declaration sets new commitments

The presidents and representatives of eight Amazonian countries closed the Fifth Summit of Amazonian Presidents in Bogotá on August 22nd with the adoption of the Bogotá Declaration, a document outlining shared goals to “protect the lungs of the world.” The agreements addressed the climate crisis, deforestation, organized crime, and the growing recognition of indigenous peoples as central actors in safeguarding the rainforest.

Colombian President Gustavo Petro, who hosted the event, called the meeting “strategically important” in advancing the message that the climate crisis must remain at the core of global political agendas. He urged leaders to arrive united at COP30, to be held in November in Belém do Pará, Brazil, where developing countries hope to push for concrete action. “The world must decide whether it prefers famine and war or saving human life and culture on the planet,” Petro warned.

Regional police cooperation launched

Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva emphasized that the summit strengthened regional cooperation on sustainable development, particularly in forestry, water management, and health services. He highlighted a landmark agreement: the creation of the Amazon International Police Cooperation Center, scheduled to be inaugurated on September 9th.

The center will coordinate security forces across the region to combat organized crime and illicit markets that exploit the Amazon. According to Lula, the initiative includes developing a “common fleet” capable of confronting the cross-border threats that increasingly target the region’s natural resources. These efforts will work in tandem with defense ministries and intelligence agencies from across Latin America and the Caribbean.

“The Amazon is worth more standing than cut down,” Lula said, underscoring that responsibility for protecting the region falls to the governments whose populations depend on it.

Voices from the region

Bolivian President Luis Arce described the meeting as “quite productive,” noting that while challenges remain, the bloc moved closer to presenting “a single, monolithic proposal” at international forums. He stressed that indigenous and local communities must remain at the center of decision-making processes.

Ecuador’s Vice President María José Pinto also placed emphasis on local perspectives, reminding attendees that the Amazon “is not just an environmental issue, but one of communities, water, and respect for interculturality.” She warned against centralized, capital-driven approaches and insisted that solutions must “be built from the territories.” Pinto also announced that Ecuador will host the VI Summit of Amazonian Countries in 2027, further positioning the country as a regional convener on climate and environmental issues.

Preparing for COP30

The summit concluded with a commitment to move forward on the Tropical Forest Fund (TFFF), an initiative spearheaded by 73 developing countries seeking financial resources to curb deforestation. Leaders stressed the urgency of mobilizing funding before the Amazon reaches an irreversible tipping point.

The Amazon bloc, formed in 1978 and made up of Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela, agreed to present a united front at COP30, which runs from November 10th to 21st. The bloc’s leaders hope that joint action will give their proposals greater weight on the global stage as the fight to preserve the world’s largest tropical rainforest enters a decisive phase.