September 10, Marseille.- After several debates among the members of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), motion 129 was approved : » Avoid the point of no return in the Amazon by protecting 80% by 2025″ proposed by the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA), with the support of various civil organizations.
“Today a strong and collective voice must come out to save the planet, save the Amazon basin and the indigenous peoples. Today we want to celebrate with you the approval of our motion for those who have left, for those who have been assassinated, for those who continue to be persecuted in the defense of our territory that gives life to the planet. But we leave you a challenge, brothers, voting is not enough, approval is not enough, we need an implementation plan, we need the support of all the countries of the world and the support of all of you: States, governments, companies. An urgent action plan and political will to change this reality of fires, death and blood, but of an Amazon that is alive and wants to continue to exist for the planet ”; with these words, Gregorio Mirabal,
With a total of 56% support from the States and government agencies (members A) and 95% from social and indigenous organizations (members B), motion 129, raised by the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of the Amazon Basin (COICA) , was approved at the World Conservation Congress of the International Union for Conservation of Nature in Marseille, France. It is noteworthy that a significant percentage (38%) of States decided to abstain from the proposal to protect the Amazon basin.
Amazon for life: 80% by 2025, is an initiative that originates from indigenous peoples and is a call for a pact to protect the largest tropical forest on the planet, which is on the verge of the point of no return, mainly due to the destructive industrial activities, government policies and harmful public subsidies that allow further destruction of forests.
“Today we have made history. The indigenous peoples of the Amazon are in the IUCN to follow the vote on this motion in person, despite the pandemic, the murders of our defenders, while our jungle and home are burned. We have put on the table an option that is born from the indigenous peoples for the planet ”, said Claudette Labonté, Coordinator of Women and Family of COICA.
Motion 129 was presented by COICA, with the support of the Amazon 80 x 2025 coalition and 17 IUCN member organizations , who described this vote as the beginning of a new and disruptive conservation movement, led by indigenous peoples.
Today, approximately 300 organizations globally have joined this initiative. From COICA we appreciate the support received and we call on you to continue joining this fight to protect the Amazon and life on the planet.
With more force we reaffirm our struggle for the protection of territories and the defense of the rights of indigenous peoples.