Amazon Network Initiative: Conserving the Living Amazon Legacy

1. The Amazon Network Initiative Conserving the Legacy of a Living Amazon Daniel Arancibia WWF October 20, 2009

2. Amazon: Geographic Scope • 6.7 million square kilometers in size • Shared by 8 countries & 1 overseas territory • > 33 million people living in the Amazon

3. The Amazon Biome: Importance • >90-140 billion tons of carbon – significant for climate change mitigation • 40% of the Earth’s remaining Tropical Forests • 20% of world’s freshwater flows through the Basin • > 10% of the known species on Earth found here • 350 indigenous groups dependent on its resources; > 60 still living in voluntary isolation

4. WWF in the Amazon • > 40 years of experience in the region • Presence in 8 out of 9 countries • Work with partners across scales – local to global • Thematic expertise on footprint & biodiversity issues

6. Climate Change • Amazon: a regional and global climate regulator • Links between deforestation and climate change • Potential tipping points

7. Extensive Cattle Ranching • 80% of deforestation in the Amazon Biome brought about by cattle ranching • Low productivity cattle ranching pervasive

8. Mechanized agriculture • Amazon increasingly integrated into national and global demand • Booming demand for animal feed and biofuels • Soy • Sugar cane • Palm oil

9. Drivers of change in the Amazon • Market demand for agro-commodities and energy • Transport infrastructure • Amazon as critical provider of ecosystem goods & services not factored into development paradigm • Comparatively low economic value of natural ecosystems • Opportunistic land use

10. Amazon Network Initiative: Vision We envisionan ecologically healthy Amazon Biome that maintains its environmental and cultural contribution to local peoples, the countries of the region, and the world, within a framework of social equity, inclusive economic development and global responsibility

11. Amazon Conceptual Model Main Strategies Main drivers Main Threats Mainpressures Conservation Targets

12. ANI Strategies • Shifting the Paradigm • Bolstering the Value of Natural Ecosystems • Sound Land Planning and Conservation • Sustainable Agro-Commodities • Free-flowing Rivers and Forest-friendly Roads

13. ANI Strategy 1: Shifting the Paradigm • Amazon ecosystem services incorporated as critical ingredient of development • Amazon’s regional & global contribution understood as vital • Responsibility fostered at all levels By: • Showing policy / economic benefits of healthy Amazon • Building committed & informed constituencies for the Amazon

14. ANI Strategy 2: Bolstering the Value of Natural Ecosystems • Increased market value of natural ecosystems by: • Promoting Carbon Credits • Payment for Environmental Services (other than carbon) • Advocating for comprehensive forest policies • Promoting demand for sustainable forest products

15. ANI Strategy 3: Land Planning & Conservation • Secure the foundations of a healthy ecosystem through a landscape approach by supporting: • Land-use plans in priority landscapes • Strengthening of land tenure and resource rights • Creation of Protected Areas • Effective management of critical protected areas, indigenous lands & key areas without legal protection

16. ANI Strategy 4: Sustainable Agro-Commodities • Influence markets to signal need for improved performance through : • Adoption of socio-environmental standards & better management practices • Designation of “go” vs. “no-go” zones

17. ANI Strategy 5: Forest Friendly Roads & Free-Flowing Rivers • Infrastructure development recognizes importance of ecosystem and local residents’ needs by: • Improving social & environmental criteria • Influencing national and regional transportation and energy policies • Enhancing civil society capacity & participation during infrastructure design & implementation

18. ANI Multi-Scale Approach Source: Folke et al.(1998)

19. WWF Presence in Amazon

20. Potential WWF Priority Landscapes

21. Thank You