Event brings together Amazonian experts, civil society, and government leaders from across the basin.
From May 28 to 31, 2025, the Ecological Research Institute – IPÊ and the College of Environmental Conservation and Sustainability – ESCAS, both located in Nazaré Paulista, São Paulo, Brazil, are hosting the inaugural workshop of The Power of Connections: Harvesting Lessons and Strengthening Coalitions for Amazonian Conservation. This initiative, led by the Tropical Conservation and Development Program (TCD) at the University of Florida and supported by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, is designed to promote long-term conservation across the Amazon by connecting key actors, sharing strategies, and fostering new leadership
The workshop brings together a diverse group of participants, including scientists, Indigenous and community leaders, policymakers, civil society organizations, and representatives from government agencies. Half of the attendees come from Brazil, while the other half represent neighboring Amazonian countries such as Colombia, Peru, Bolivia, and Ecuador. This balance is intentional. The goal is to create space for international collaboration rooted in local experience.
For Cláudio Pádua, director of socio-bioeconomy at IPÊ and one of the workshop’s theme leads, the event represents a unique opportunity to advance regional dialogue. “The participant group was selected for its extensive experience in topics related to socio-bioeconomy, which can foster new ideas to enrich this promising field for conservation and sustainability,” Pádua said. “By the end of the workshop, I believe we will be greatly stimulated to move forward with ideas that can strengthen socio-bioeconomy and conservation financing in the Amazon.”
Over the course of four days, participants will explore four key themes related to socio-bioeconomy and conservation finance for Amazonian conservation. This is the first in a series of regional workshops taking place across Amazon basin countries throughout 2025.
According to Trent Blare, one of the workshop organizers and a specialist in Amazonian bioeconomy, the event aims to bridge gaps between sectors and nations. “The idea is to bring together top business leaders, government officials, and practitioners working on bioeconomy and conservation finance throughout the Amazon,” he explained. “We want to create opportunities for people from different countries, who wouldn’t normally interact, to share experiences and think outside the box. It’s about exchanging what has worked, exploring new ideas, and supporting Amazonian communities while preserving the forest and its ecological services.”
Dr. Pilar Useche, professor of Food and Resource Economics and Latin American Studies at the University of Florida, also emphasized the workshop’s broader goals. “This is the first in a series of events focused on Amazon research exploring innovative conservation and sustainable development strategies in the region. This workshop serves as a platform to exchange, examine, and share experiences, strategies, and lessons learned in developing and implementing socio-bioeconomic enterprises, as well as in advancing conservation financing strategies. It aims to bring together development practitioners, local entrepreneurs, community leaders, students, researchers, and policymakers,” she said. “We hope to strengthen a network of institutions and individuals committed to promoting sustainable resource management and conservation in the region.”
This gathering marks an important moment to strengthen coalitions and reflect on lessons learned after decades of conservation efforts in the region. The outcomes of these workshops will help shape shared priorities and contribute to a collective roadmap leading up to the UF Amazon Summit, to be held in 2026 at the University of Florida.
Learn more about the project at: https://amazonconservationconnections.com/.
This project is funded by the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation through Grant GBMF13270.
About the Tropical Conservation and Development Program
The Tropical Conservation and Development (TCD) Program’s mission is to bridge theory and practice to advance biodiversity conservation, sustainable resource use, and human well-being in the tropics and beyond. TCD is a research and training program of the Center for Latin American Studies, with 10 core faculty and approximately 100 faculty affiliates across campus. TCD has a longstanding history of collaboration with partner organizations in the Amazon and of supporting networks of conservation practitioners dedicated to sustainable development.
About the Moore Foundation
The Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation advances scientific discovery, environmental conservation, and the special character of the San Francisco Bay Area. Since 2001 the Andes-Amazon Initiative of the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation has helped conserve over 400 million hectares in the Amazon. By 2031 the initiative aims to have 70% of the Amazon biome (forest cover) and the freshwater ecosystems that sustain it under effective management and conservation.
Visit Moore.org and follow @MooreFound to learn more.