André Guimarães, executive director of IPAM (Amazon Environmental Research Institute), discussed the future of agriculture with protection of the Amazon and Cerrado at the ADBI (Asian Development Bank Institute), which took place in Bangkok, Thailand, on March 20 and 21.
The event “Future Synergies between Climate and Development: An International Conference of the Global Think Tanks Cooperation Initiative” derived from COP29 efforts to exchange knowledge and foster partnerships in favor of sustainable transition and accelerated climate action. Among those invited were global leaders, researchers and government agents.
Guimarães spoke at a session on forest protection, moderated a session on water safeguards for rivers and oceans, and participated in a debate on the links between science and the development of effective public policies to tackle climate change.
From left, IPAM executive director André Guimarães at an event at the Asian Development Bank Institute (Photo: Disclosure)
The director presented IPAM data on the Amazon and the Cerrado, highlighting fires, deforestation and rising temperatures in the biomes, as well as the increased occurrence of extreme weather events in the country, such as the drought in the state of Amazonas in 2024. He also explained the relationship between rural productivity and conservation, mentioning the climatic limit of agriculture in Brazil – based on an article published by a researcher at the Institute.
“Around 90% of agriculture in Brazil depends on rain, the rest is linked to river water. Therefore, it is living and healthy nature that guarantees the conditions for crops to thrive. Development in synergy with what we need to survive the climate includes 1) zero deforestation, 2) providing rural technical assistance, 3) financial compensation for conservation and 4) redefining the agricultural landscape,” summarizes Guimarães.
Experiences from IPAM and partner initiatives with family farmers and rural producers in the Amazon and Cerrado were shared as successful examples of the union between production and conservation.
The Sustainable Settlements Project in the Amazon, cited by the director, increased the gross income of more than 3,000 family farmers by 135% by offering technical and rural assistance. At the same time, it reduced deforestation on the plots by 76% between 2012 and 2017.
CONSERV, which was also mentioned, helps protect more than 26,000 hectares of native vegetation, which could be deforested and emit more than 2 million tons of carbon dioxide into the atmosphere. This is because the mechanism pays properties for maintaining native areas in addition to the legal reserve.
