From May 28 to 31, 2025, ESCAS-IPÊ, sediou a oficina internacional “Sociobioeconomics and Finance for the Amazon Conservation (Sociobioeconomias e Finanças para a Conservação na Amazônia)” in Nazaré Paulista, Brazil. The event marked the official launch of the project, The Power of Connections: Harvesting Lessons and Strengthening Coalitions for Amazonian Conservation, led by the Tropical Conservation and Development Program (TCD) at the University of Florida and supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation.
Over four days, indigenous leaders, researchers, representatives of grassroots organizations, NGOs, the private sector, and universities from Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Suriname, and the United States gathered to share experiences, strategies, and challenges in their respective territories and countries. The event was designed to foster intersectoral and transboundary alliances, build a shared Pan-Amazonian conservation agenda, and advance sociobioeconomic solutions based on knowledge and the diversity of each experience.
Suzana Padua, president and co-founder of IPÊ, emphasized that the event’s value was in the participants’ willingness to go beyond their success stories. “It was an inspiring gathering. People were willing not only to share their victories, but also to speak honestly about the challenges and lessons they learned along the way”, said Suzana.
This was the first of several planned meetings that will deepen collaborations and help define shared priorities among Amazonian leaders. The year-long process will culminate in the UF Amazon Conference, scheduled to take place in 2026 at the University of Florida. The Power of Connections is more than a workshop; it has established itself as a living space for listening, collaboration, and hope, where bridges have been built between countries, but also between ways of knowing, living, and imagining the future of the Amazon.
Text by Analu Melo Ferreira. Full article here.
