Amazon conservation efforts focus on fire prevention and indigenous knowledge

A recent study published in the journal Science indicates that preventing forest fires and other disturbances is more effective for protecting the Amazon's biodiversity and carbon reserves than reforestation efforts. The research, led by Lancaster University in collaboration with institutions from Brazil, Sweden, and Australia, analyzed over 3 million hectares in the Brazilian states of Pará between 2010 and 2020.

Researchers found that while restoring deforested areas is valuable in locations where original cover is entirely lost, protecting existing forests yields superior results for both biodiversity and carbon sequestration. Experts warn that climate change and phenomena like El Niño are increasing the frequency of long, hot, and dry seasons, which exacerbate fire risks.

In parallel, conservation efforts are increasingly integrating social and cultural strategies. The organization Treesistance is working with indigenous communities across four Brazilian states to combine ancestral knowledge with legal defense, renewable energy, and sustainable economic development. Their Forest Guardians program aims to protect approximately 2 million hectares of primary jungle through a model that emphasizes territorial defense and cultural preservation.