May 22: International Biodiversity Day
The conservation of the Amazon, the world’s largest tropical forest, and its biodiversity are global priority and essential to regulate the planet’s climate. One in every 10 species is native to the Amazon. The forest and its natural riches will be remembered next May 22, on the occasion of International Biodiversity Day.
Biodiversity conservation has been USAID’s main focus in Brazil for several years. Since 2016, USAID/Brazil’s Partnership for the Conservation of Amazon Biodiversity (PCAB) has brought together a network of public and private organizations to ensure the preservation of the forest and improvement in the quality of people's lives.
Released last January, the 2020’s Global Risk Report of the World Economic Forum (WEF) elected biodiversity loss as one of the top five risks for global political and economic stability over the next 10 years. The loss of biodiversity destabilizing ecosystems that impact climate events. The goal to contain global warming is part of this effort.
Check out stories of some projects supported by PCAB that contribute to the biodiversity conservation and socioeconomic advances for Amazon rural communities, while helping to protect the standing forest.
- To preserve the Amazon's turtles, residents participate in monitoring projects that have guaranteed vigilance on the number of animals in the wild, such as on the banks of the Trombetas River.
- Through collective branding, “Gosto da Amazônia” was created to promote the joint commercialization of pirarucu, produced from sustainable management practices. The initiative has allowed pirarucu to reach new markets, such as Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo, and Brasília.
Read more here.
