In Bogota, Colombia, a historic summit is underway this week that could reshape the fate of the world’s largest rainforest. Indigenous leaders from across the Amazon basin have gathered alongside South American presidents, scientists, and civil society at the Fifth Presidential Summit of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ATCO). Their message is clear: it’s time to turn lofty promises into real action, and to place Indigenous voices at the heart of decision-making about the Amazon’s future.
The summit, which officially opened on Tuesday, August 19, 2025, brings together heads of state from all eight Amazonian nations—Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Over the course of the week, the agenda is packed with public forums, cultural events, and high-level meetings. The program will culminate on Friday, August 22, with the joint “Declaration of Bogota,” a document intended to set regional priorities on environmental protection and climate policy.
But for Indigenous leaders, this gathering represents more than just another diplomatic milestone. For the first time, they hope to meet face-to-face with national leaders at a presidential summit, demanding a seat at the table and a say in shaping the future of the rainforest they call home. According to The Associated Press, Indigenous groups from all eight nations issued a powerful statement on Monday evening, describing the Amazon as a “global lifeline” that provides about one-fifth of the world’s freshwater and acts as one of the planet’s largest carbon sinks, absorbing vast amounts of heat-trapping carbon dioxide.
“There will be no future without Indigenous peoples at the center of decision-making,” the groups declared, underscoring their determination to be recognized not just as stakeholders, but as essential partners in the region’s stewardship.
The sense of urgency is palpable. Decades of deforestation, mining, fossil fuel drilling, and large-scale farming have pushed the Amazon perilously close to a “point of no return,” warn Indigenous representatives. The consequences of inaction are not just regional, but global, given the Amazon’s role in regulating climate and providing fresh water. “There is no solution to any of the threats the Amazon is facing without its communities,” said Raphael Hoetmer, senior advisor at Amazon Watch, a U.S.-based nonprofit attending the summit. He added, “There is an historical opportunity to create a mechanism for permanent and direct dialogue and participation with Indigenous peoples through the ATCO.”
The summit’s week-long program reflects the complexity and interconnectedness of the issues at play. One highlight is the “Amazon Dialogues” forum, which brings together civil society, scientists, and Indigenous leaders to discuss the most pressing challenges and opportunities. Another is a panel on the rainforest’s so-called “flying rivers”—vast flows of water vapor that rise from the Amazon and help regulate South America’s climate. There’s also a “Road to COP30” event, aimed at shaping the Amazon’s collective voice ahead of the next United Nations climate conference in Brazil this November.
Yet, for many activists and Indigenous representatives, these discussions must lead to concrete, measurable outcomes. They point to the 2023 Belem Declaration—a joint pledge by Amazon nations to cooperate on protecting the rainforest—as a case in point. Despite the fanfare surrounding its announcement, many of its commitments remain unfulfilled. Indigenous groups are wary of another round of what they call “empty promises.”
Among their demands are legal protection of Indigenous lands, formal recognition of their communities as official decision-makers within the treaty body, and a ban on new oil, gas, and mining projects in the rainforest. They’re also calling for the creation of a working group to oversee a “just transition” to cleaner energy, moving away from coal, oil, and natural gas. Additionally, they propose establishing an observatory to track threats against environmental defenders—a response to the disturbing trend of rising violence against activists across the Amazon.
“Violence against activists continues to rise across the Amazon,” the groups emphasized, calling for urgent regional protection measures. In recent years, environmental defenders have faced mounting threats, intimidation, and even deadly attacks, simply for standing up for their land and rights. This persistent danger adds a layer of gravity to the summit’s proceedings, as participants acknowledge that environmental protection and human rights are inextricably linked.
The summit’s significance is heightened by the presence of leaders from all eight Amazonian countries. According to The Independent, this is the first time Indigenous representatives may meet directly with heads of state during an ATCO summit—a long-awaited opportunity to present their case without intermediaries. For many, it’s a moment that’s been years in the making, and one that could set a precedent for future regional cooperation.
The stakes could hardly be higher. The Amazon is not just a regional treasure; it’s a vital component of the Earth’s climate system. Its forests absorb billions of tons of carbon dioxide each year, helping to slow global warming. Its rivers and rainfall sustain agriculture and communities far beyond its borders. But as deforestation accelerates and extractive industries push deeper into the jungle, scientists warn that the Amazon could soon lose its ability to recover, transforming from a carbon sink into a carbon source—a shift with potentially catastrophic consequences for the planet.
Indigenous leaders argue that their traditional knowledge and stewardship are essential to reversing this trend. They point to centuries of sustainable management, in stark contrast to the destructive practices that have fueled recent environmental crises. By involving Indigenous communities directly in policy-making and granting them legal authority over their lands, many believe the Amazon’s decline can be halted—and even reversed.
Still, challenges remain. Translating summit declarations into real-world change will require political will, financial resources, and ongoing cooperation among countries with sometimes competing interests. The call for a ban on new extractive projects, for example, is likely to face resistance from sectors that depend on mining, oil, and gas revenues. Likewise, ensuring the safety of environmental defenders will demand stronger laws, better enforcement, and international support.
As the summit unfolds in Bogota, the world is watching. The decisions made this week—and the commitments honored in the months and years ahead—will shape not only the Amazon’s destiny, but the future of global climate efforts. For Indigenous leaders, the message is simple: their voices must be heard, their rights respected, and their knowledge harnessed if there is to be any hope for the rainforest’s survival.
With the “Declaration of Bogota” set to be unveiled on Friday, observers are eager to see whether this summit will mark a turning point—or simply another round of well-intentioned rhetoric. What’s clear is that the stakes, for both the Amazon and the planet, have never been higher.
