Connecting and sharing diverse knowledge systems to support sustainable pathways in the Amazon

The Science Panel for the Amazon is an unprecedented initiative convened under the auspices of the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network (SDSN). The SPA is composed of over 200 preeminent scientists and researchers from the eight Amazonian countries, French Guiana, and global partners. These experts came together to debate, analyze, and assemble the accumulated knowledge of the scientific community, Indigenous peoples, and other stakeholders that live and work in the Amazon. The Panel is inspired by the Leticia Pact for the Amazon. This is a first-of-its-kind Report which provides a comprehensive, objective, open, transparent, systematic, and rigorous scienti fic assessment of the state of the Amazon’s ecosystems, current trends, and their implications for the long-term well-being of the region, as well as opportunities and policy relevant options for conservation and sustainable development. Although Indigenous and Local Knowledge (ILK) held by Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPLC) has been critical in conservation and sustainable development efforts across the Amazon, there is lack of appropriate recognition and internalization of lessons offered, hindering just and inclusive knowledge production, and participatory and effective decision-making at local, national, and international scales. Many inspiring solutions to decision-making exist across the Amazon. In this chapter, we use the conceptual framework of public participation in scientific research and an appreciative inquiry approach to review and synthesize a range of illustrative initiatives in the Amazon which align scientific (academic), technical, and Indigenous and local knowledge systems in conservation and development initiatives. We also consider recent policy recommendations and guidelines by local and global professional associations as well as civil society organizations. In order to most effectively align different social actors in knowledge production, sharing, and informed decision-making, a critical first condition involves recognizing and guaranteeing fundamental rights of people and nature, and recognizing ILK. To achieve this goal, it is urgent to strengthen knowledge dialogues, and to enact open and collaborative knowledge principles, through policies, agreements and protocols for each step of the knowledge sharing process. These should be the product of multi-stake-holder collaboration, defined in specific terms and adapted to diverse contexts, objectives and needs. Based on this, we recommend interventions at various scales, including strengthening and scaling up intercultural knowledge dialogue platforms; promoting structural change and training of the institutions that currently make decisions, in order to enable IPLC engagement and strengthen public participation in decision-making; ensuring transparency and accountability of the process; and creating and strengthening intercultural, multi-stakeholder networks to devise collaborative solutions for reconciling the conservation of Amazon ecosystems and the well-being of its peoples. a proposal summary of the vision map of the future of the Amazon, prepared in a participatory the Virtual Meeting by on search a more sustainable future for the Amazon”. The content of this still needs to be reviewed and validated by the participants of the meeting. A table with the summary of the vision and values is attached.