2022 Year in Review

- was unconstitutional and careless
during a time when deforestation and
fires were increasing. This
reinstatement of a fund, started by
Lula during his Presidency in 2008,
will provide access to over $800
million. This decision will help
reinstate forest protection by fighting
against deforestation and promoting
sustainable development. Lula's win
will also see a change in policy,
security, government, and
international support for
conservation, with Germany, a past
major donor to the Amazon Fund,
agreeing to provide support again.
COLOMBIA’S HOPE TO
DECREASE DESTRUCTION
These positive government actions
were also recently seen in Colombia,
which announced its ambitious plan
and commitment to reduce
deforestation in the Colombian
Amazon. This news also saw
Colombia receive international
support and funding from Germany,
Norway, and the UK. This comes after
the new minister for the environment
Susana Muhamad, within her first 100
days of office, signed the agreements
to reduce deforestation in
cooperation with the communities.
The new internationally supported
strategy would see the Colombian
government work
with indigenous people and
communities - particularly in the
"deforestation hotspots"- to reach
agreements that would strengthen
these areas' economic, social, and
environmental conditions.
WILL 2023 ACT TO SAVE
THE AMAZON?
The deforestation of vast areas of
unique ecosystems, the disruption of
indigenous communities, and the
destruction of archaeological
evidence of ancient civilisations has
created irreparable damage. While
the end of 2022 promises some hope
for 2023 and beyond, the damage
done is not completely reversible.
2022 is a year that cannot be
repeated if the conservation of the
Amazon rainforest and all its
ecological and cultural treasures is a
serious goal for global policymakers.
Conservation and close cooperation
with indigenous groups living in this
area must be the top priority for
those in government. As 2022 and the
years past have shown, civil society
and well-meaning individuals cannot
solely protect the Amazon to survive;
good, environmentally conscious
governance is required.
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