LETICIA, Colombia - Leaders from Brazil,
Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana and Peru and Suriname have
begun discussion of possible regional measures to protect the
Amazon at a Friday summit, amid recent fires which burned
thousands of square miles of the world's largest tropical
forest.
The presidents of Colombia, Bolivia, Ecuador and Peru, the
vice-president of Suriname and the natural resource minister of
Guyana are attending the one-day summit in the jungle city of
Leticia in southern Colombia. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro
will participate by video link.
The group will discuss implementing a satellite system meant
to alert them to fires, how to coordinate a joint response to
future fires and more funding from both the attending countries
and the international community, Colombia's Environment Minister
Ricardo Lozano said ahead of the conference.
"We are here to coordinate our actions, to work hand-in-hand
to protect our Amazon," Colombian President Ivan Duque said in
his opening remarks. "This meeting is for us to reaffirm a pact
for conservation, for the protection of this wealth."
Ecuadorean President Lenin Moreno opened his first remarks
by singing 'Padre,' a song by Spanish singer Joan Manuel Serrat
about environmental destruction.
Forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon have surged in number
by 83% this year, according to government data, destroying vast
swathes of a vital bulwark against global climate change.
Some 60% of the forest is located in Brazil. The Amazon is
also home to around one million members of 500 indigenous
groups.
Fires have also raged in recent weeks in Bolivia.
Bolsonaro initially accused non-governmental organizations
of setting the fires without providing any evidence, while
environmentalists have warned his controversial plans for more
agriculture and mining in the region will speed up
deforestation.
The far-right firebrand engaged in a public war of words
with French President Emmanuel Macron, who called for more to be
done to combat the fires.
Bolsonaro has said that he would only accept an offer of $20
million in aid if Macron withdraws "insults" against him.