Countries pledge to save the Amazon

Eight South American countries pledged to protect one of the planet’s largest natural reserves from deforestation and illegal trafficking in timber and minerals. Representatives of Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and...

Eight South American countries pledged to protect one of the planet’s largest natural reserves from deforestation and illegal trafficking in timber and minerals.

Representatives of Brazil, Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname and Venezuela vowed to speak with one voice at next June’s UN conference on sustainable development in Rio.

The Amazon, the world’s largest tropical rainforest, is one of the world’s largest reserves of fresh water. Last month signatories of the 1978 Amazon Cooperation Treaty, focused on the Amazon Fund, a joint initiative launched in 2008 to combat deforestation and support conservation and sustainable development.

“The Brazilian government is committed to revitalising the Amazon Cooperation Treaty,” said Foreign Minister Antonio Patriota.

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