The SPA

The Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA), established on September 23, 2019, at the United Nations in New York, is the world’s first regional high-level science initiative dedicated to the Amazon.

Officially launched in July 2020 and comprising today over 350 scientists, the SPA interweaves Indigenous and local knowledge with Western science to develop evidence-based solutions for sustainable development.

OUR MISSION

To synthesize and communicate scientific knowledge about the Amazon, interwoven with Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK), to accelerate solutions for sustainable and equitable development.

OUR VISION

To become a global authority providing state-of-the-art, policy-relevant science and knowledge about the Amazon.

The SPA targets academia, governments, the private sector, civil society, Indigenous peoples, local communities, and the international community, providing expert-led solutions to inform decision-making and promote sustainable practices.

The SPA’s diverse solutions aim to halt deforestation, expand Protected Areas, restore ecosystems, and develop a sustainable socio-bioeconomy of healthy standing forests and flowing rivers, safeguarding the Amazon’s ecological and cultural richness for future generations.

SPA Leadership

The SPA is convened under the auspices of the Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN)

Professor Jeffrey Sachs, Science Panel for the Amazon Convener

Professor Jeffrey Sachs

SDSN President & SPA Convener

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Emma Torres, Science Panel for the Amazon Coordinator

Ms. Emma Torres

SPA Strategic Coordinator

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Carlos Nobre, Science Panel for the Amazon Co-Chair

Dr. Carlos Nobre

SPA Co-Chair

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Marielos Peña-Claros, Science Panel for the Amazon Co-Chair

Dr. Marielos Peña-Claros

SPA Co-Chair

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Composed of global thought leaders, the Strategic Committee advises the SPA, supporting the effective communication of its findings and recommendations to ensure wide-reaching dissemination and impact.

SPA Strategic Committee

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    Mr. Achim Steiner

    Administrator, United Nations Development Programme

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  • A man with gray hair, wearing a gray suit and white shirt, resting his chin on his hand in deep thought.

    Dr. André Lara Resende

    Former President, The Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES)

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    Dr. Angel Guevara

    President, Academy of Sciences of Ecuador

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  • Smiling woman with glasses and earrings, wearing a pink shirt and dark blazer, standing in front of dark green foliage with purple flowers.

    Dr. Avecita Chicchon

    Program Director, Andes-Amazon Initiative, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

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  • Side profile of a woman with long black hair and a black dress, standing outdoors with trees in the background.

    Ms. Beka Munduruku

    Young Indigenous Leader, Munduruku People

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  • A woman with short brown hair wearing a gray blazer and blue collared shirt posing against a dark background.

    Mrs. Christiane Torloni

    Actress, Rede Globo

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    Mr. Clarence Seedorf

    Football Legend

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  • Man in a blue striped shirt and vest holding a small potted tree outdoors.

    Dr. Fernando Roca

    Member and Designated SPA Representative, National Academy of Sciences of Peru

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  • A man dressed as a chef smiling in front of a window with white wooden paneling background.

    Mr. Gaston Acurio

    Co-Founder, Acurio Restaurantes

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    Mr. Gustavo Dudamel

    Music and Artistic Director, Los Angeles Philharmonic

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  • Black and white portrait of a woman with short hair, wearing glasses and earrings, smiling at the camera.

    Dr. Helena B. Nader

    Brazilian biomedical scientist, Federal University of São Paulo

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  • A man with tribal face tattoos and a colorful feathered headdress, standing in front of green plants and flowers

    Mr. Jose Gregorio Diaz Mirabal

    Indigenous Leader and Former COICA Coordinator

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  • Close-up of a man in a black suit with a Twitter logo pin, wearing a blue tie, with a serious expression.

    President Juan Manuel Santos

    Former President and Nobel Peace Prize Winner

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  • A man with glasses and dark hair wearing a dark suit and tie, sitting at a table with a microphone, in front of a United Nations backdrop.

    Mr. Luis Moreno

    President, Inter-American Development Bank

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    Dr. Luiz Davidovich

    President, Brazilian Academy of Sciences

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    Monsignor Marcelo Sánchez Sorondo

    Chancellor, Pontifical Academy of Sciences and Pontifical Academy of Social Sciences

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  • A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a dark blazer and a colorful scarf, smiling softly in front of a blue backdrop.

    Mrs. Maria Fernanda Espinosa Garcés

    Former President of the United Nations General Assembly, Former Minister of Foreign Affairs and Defense of Ecuador

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  • A woman with long wavy brown hair smiling, wearing a green top, in an industrial or warehouse setting.

    Ms. Marina Helou

    Congresswoman, Legislative Assembly of the State of São Paulo

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  • Man with gray hair, mustache, wearing a suit and red tie, standing in front of a plain background.

    Dr. Ricardo Galvão

    Awarded Brazilian physicist and engineer

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  • A man with gray hair, a beard, and glasses, smiling outdoors with greenery in the background, wearing a light blue collared shirt.

    Mr. Roberto Waack

    Chairman of the Board of the Arapyaú Institute, co-founder of the initiative Uma Concertação pela Amazônia

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    Minister Valerie Garrido-Lowe

    Ministry of Indigenous Peoples Affairs, Government of Guyana

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  • A smiling middle-aged man wearing glasses, a white shirt, and a dark suit against a wooden interior background.

    Mr. Guilherme Leal

    Co-Founder, Natura
    (Emeritus)

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  • An older man with white hair, wearing a black suit, blue checkered shirt, and dark tie, smiling in front of a bookshelf with books and decorative items.

    Ambassador Rubens Ricupero

    Former Secretary General, United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD)
    (Emeritus)

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    Dr. Enrique Forero

    President, Colombian Academy of Exact, Physical and Natural Sciences
    (In Memoriam)

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    Mr. Sebastião Salgado

    Photographer and Co-Founder of Instituto Terra
    (In Memoriam)

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    Thomas Lovejoy

    World-renowned Ecologist
    (In Memoriam)

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SPA Science Steering Committee

The Science Steering Committee supports the overall scientific oversight of the Panel, including reviewing outputs, advising on science strategy, and nominating and approving the Co-Chairs. Members serve terms with a staggered rotation to ensure continuity.

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    André Baniwa

    Consultant, Secretariat of Indigenous Health, Ministry of Health of Brazil

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    Carmen Josse

    Executive Director, Fundación EcoCiencia

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  • A woman wearing a wide-brimmed hat, purple jacket, gray pants, and black boots sitting on a log near a river, surrounded by dense green jungle foliage.

    Dolors Armenteras

    Professor, Universidad Nacional de Colombia

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    Francisco de Assis Costa

    Professor of Economics, Federal University of Pará

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  • A woman wearing glasses, a large straw hat, and colorful feather jewelry smiling at the camera against a plain white wall.

    Gloria Amparo Rivera

    Principal Researcher on Territorial and Ethnic Differential Approaches, National Learning Service (SENA), Vaupés Regional Office

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  • A man with dark curly hair, glasses, and a beard, wearing a white shirt, standing outdoors with crossed arms in front of a building with horizontal blinds.

    Jhan-Carlo Espinoza

    Research Director, French National Research Institute for Sustainable Development (IRD)

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  • A smiling man with tousled brown hair and a beard, wearing a gray shirt and a backpack, standing in a lush green forest.

    Jos Barlow

    Professor of Conservation Science, Lancaster University

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  • Close-up of a woman with brown hair, smiling, wearing glasses, pearl earrings, and a purple jacket.

    Lilian Painter

    Bolivia Country Director and Senior Conservationist, Wildlife Conservation Society

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  • A woman with dark hair pulled back, sitting on a boat, looking out over a body of water with a cloudy sky in the background.

    Mariana Gómez Soto

    Executive Secretary of the NorAmazon Alliance

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  • A smiling woman wearing glasses, a beige cap with a butterfly logo, and a backpack, standing outdoors against a dark rocky background.

    Mariana Varese

    Program Officer, Andes-Amazon Initiative, Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation

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  • A smiling woman with dark hair tied back in a ponytail, wearing a gray T-shirt, outdoors on a sunny day with green hills and rocks in the background.

    Marina Hirota

    Associate Professor, Federal University of Santa Catarina (UFSC)

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  • A woman with dark curly hair, wearing a red jacket over a navy dress with white polka dots, standing outdoors with green foliage in the background.

    Mayra Esseboom

    Researcher Non-Timber Forest Products (NTFP), Centre for Agricultural Research in Suriname (CELOS)

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  • A woman with short dark hair and glasses, wearing a white top and red scarf, standing outdoors with green foliage in the background.

    Mercedes Bustamante

    Professor, University of Brasilia

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    Nathália Nascimento

    Professor, University of São Paulo

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  • A bald man with a slight beard standing outdoors with mountains and clear blue sky in the background.

    Nicolás Cuvi

    Senior Research Professor, Latin American Faculty of Social Sciences (FLACSO Ecuador)

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  • A middle-aged man with gray hair, beard, and glasses looking at the camera, wearing a white shirt, lying on a wooden surface.

    Paulo Moutinho

    Senior Scientist, Amazon Environmental Research Institute - IPAM Amazonia

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SPA Members

The Science Panel for the Amazon comprises over 350 scientists, 42% of whom are female-identifying, with 69% from the eight Amazonian countries and French Guiana, including Indigenous and local communities. The Panel members bring decades of expertise in diverse disciplines such as biology, geology, ecology, climatology, hydrology, anthropology, economics, and political science.

SPA Youth Advisory Committee

The Youth Advisory Committee (YAC) is an initiative aimed at integrating the voices, expertise, and energy of young scientists and leaders into the conservation and sustainable development efforts of the SPA. The YAC promotes SPA’s scientific and policy recommendations, fosters collaboration with youth organizations, and advances science communication representation and networking.

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    Alejandra Gonzales Rocabado

    Bolivia

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    Anaïs Salabert

    French Guiana

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  • Side profile of a woman with long black hair, wearing a black dress and a pearl necklace, outdoors with trees in the background.

    Beka Munduruku

    Brazil

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  • A woman with long dark hair, wearing a white blouse with gold buttons and pearl earrings, sitting on a sofa with her hand near her chin, in an indoor setting with curtains in the background.

    Carla Daniela Guevara Inga

    Ecuador

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  • A woman with dark, wet hair, wearing a white shirt and earrings, smiling against a light gray background.

    Criseyda Román Córdova

    Peru

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  • A man with dark hair, glasses, and a beard wearing a light blue button-up shirt, standing in front of an abstract multicolored mural.

    Felipe Storch de Oliveira

    Brazil

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    Gustavo Nascimento

    Brazil

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  • A smiling man with dark, curly hair outdoors in a park with trees and grass.

    João Pedro Braga

    Brazil

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  • Portrait of a young woman outdoors surrounded by green foliage, smiling slightly, wearing a sleeveless black shirt.

    Maryane Bento Trindade de Andrade

    Brazil

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  • Young Indigenous man, wearing a headband, outdoors, in black and white.

    Meset Fernando Mashingashi Unkuch

    Ecuador

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  • A woman smiling and standing with her hands on her hips in front of a colorful mural of a butterfly.

    Nohora Alejandra Quiguantar

    Colombia

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  • A young man with glasses smiling outdoors, surrounded by trees and foliage, wearing a pink plaid shirt over a gray t-shirt.

    Pedro Neves de Castro

    Brazil

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  • Professional woman with long black hair, wearing a dark blazer and smiling at the camera.

    Sorayadebie Jhagroe

    Suriname

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SPA Technical-Scientific Secretariat

The Science Panel for the Amazon is supported by a Secretariat with offices in São Paulo, Brazil, and New York, USA. The Secretariat hires staff from all regions and countries and is dedicated to providing high-level support to the SPA.

  • A man with a trimmed beard and short dark hair standing outdoors with mountains and blue sky in the background, wearing a blue T-shirt.

    Federico Viscarra

    Science Officer

  • A woman smiling, wearing a green top, with long dark hair, standing against a plain light-colored wall.

    Isabella Leite

    Senior Program Manager

  • A close-up black-and-white photo of a smiling woman with short, wavy hair, wearing earrings and a sleeveless top.

    Julia Arieira

    Technical-Scientific Secretariat

  • A woman with long curly hair and brown eyes holds her hands in front of her face forming a rectangular frame, focusing on her face, wearing earrings and a black floral dress, against a red background.

    Gabriela Arnal

    Program Manager & Communications

  • A man with curly dark hair wearing a striped button-up shirt smiling indoors with a plant in the background.

    Diego O. Brandão

    Technical-Scientific Secretariat

  • A young man with short brown hair wearing a green, blue, and red plaid shirt, smiling at the camera on a rooftop overlooking a cityscape with high-rise buildings and mountains in the background during sunset or early evening.

    Daniel Bernstein

    Special Assistant & Program Associate

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    Gabriel Sperandeo

    Administrative Assistant

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    Nina Witteveen

    Postdoctoral Researcher

  • A man with short dark hair and a beard smiling outdoors with mountains and a clear blue sky in the background.

    André Junqueira

    Indigenous People and Local Communities Engagement Strategy Advisor

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    Jaime Serrano

    Indigenous People and Local Communities Engagement Strategy Advisor

  • A woman with shoulder-length dark hair and makeup, wearing a white top and a large green chain necklace, standing in front of a red textured background.

    Cristina Ribeiro

    Executive Senior Assistant

  • A smiling woman with dark hair, wearing a green blazer, cream turtleneck, and gold jewelry, standing in an indoor setting with blurred background.

    Stefanía Sibille Grández

    Program Associate