SPA promoted workshop with representatives of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities of the Amazon to discuss its upcoming report
On July 25, the Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA) held a virtual workshop with representatives of Indigenous Peoples and of Local Communities from across the Amazon region, aiming to broaden and deepen the dialogue around the Amazon Assessment Report 2025 (AR2025), which will be launched during COP30 in Belém this coming November.
Throughout its trajectory, SPA has strengthened its engagement with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, promoting their participation in the Panel’s activities and in the collective development of its outputs. Since its inception, the AR2025 has included the active participation of members from Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in all its chapters as contributing authors, ensuring that their visions and perspectives are reflected in the document’s messages, recommendations, and calls to action. The report also includes a dedicated chapter titled “Dimensions of connectivity from the perspectives of Indigenous Peoples, Afro-descendant populations, and Local Communities in the Amazon”, developed along with Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities representatives.
The meeting, held as part of the AR2025 public consultation, aimed to involve a broad and diverse group of Indigenous and Local Community representatives, fostering a space for active listening, knowledge exchange and co-production and allowing for oral feedback on the report. Divided into two sessions, the event gathered over 35 representatives in each session, coming from territories and organizations from all Amazonian countries. Participants included men, women, and youth from various ethnic groups and types of local communities (Indigenous, ribeirinhos, Afro-descendant, campesinos, among others), acting in multiple spheres: local and regional leaders, institution representatives, youth, academics and people working with governments, NGOs, and universities.
During the event, SPA lead authors presented the main messages of each chapter of the report, followed by a discussion in which participants expressed their experiences, visions, and knowledge. Discussions also focused on ways the AR2025 can support the agendas and strategies of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities—both at regional and international levels, and also through concrete actions in defense of their territories. Hence, the meeting contributed not only to strengthening the AR2025 with new recommendations and insights, but also to shaping a broader and more continuous strategy of engagement between the Panel and Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities.
Given the immense challenges facing the Amazon—and recognizing the key role this and other tropical forests play in regulating the global climate—the mobilization of diverse actors and knowledge systems is essential to promoting just, resilient, and effective trajectories for the future of the region and its peoples. In this context, the Science Panel for the Amazon reaffirms its commitment to the meaningful participation of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities in all dimensions of its work and will continue to serve as a space for dialogue, cooperation, and collective construction.
