The Amazon Network Initiative
Conserving the Legacy of a Living Amazon
Daniel Arancibia
WWF
October 20, 2009
Amazon: Geographic Scope
 6.7 million square
kilometers in size
 Shared by 8 countries & 1
overseas territory
 > 33 million people living in
the Amazon
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
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
Climate Change
 Amazon: a regional and global climate regulator
 Links between deforestation and climate change
 Potential tipping points
Extensive Cattle Ranching
 80% of deforestation in the
Amazon Biome brought about
by cattle ranching
 Low productivity cattle
ranching pervasive
Mechanized agriculture
 Amazon increasingly
integrated into national and
global demand
 Booming demand for animal
feed and biofuels
 Soy
 Sugar cane
 Palm oil
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
Amazon Network Initiative: Vision
We envision an 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
Amazon Conceptual Model
Main Strategies
Main drivers
Main Threats
Market demand
(agro-commodities)
Climate
Change
Sustainable
Commodities
Shifting the Paradigm
Transport
Infrastructure
Bolstering the
Value of Natural
Ecosystems
Lack of Ecosystem
Value
Main pressures
Mechanized
Agriculture
Deforestation
/ Conversion
Conservation
Targets
Ecological Systems
Landscape
Planning &
Conservation
Free Flowing
Rivers & Forest
Friendly Roads
Weak Governance /
lack integrated
vision
Environmental Flows
Extensive
Cattle
Ranching
Regional climate
patterns
Lack of planning /
land grabbing
Water
Infrastructure
Market demand
(energy)
River flow
changes
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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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ANI Strategy 5: Forest Friendly Roads & FreeFlowing 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
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ANI Multi-Scale Approach
Source: Folke et al.(1998)
WWF Presence in Amazon
Potential WWF Priority Landscapes
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Thank You