Joint efforts on behalf of the forest

By using an interesting metaphor, Ricardo Young, president of Instituto Ethos, told how the Amazon Forum was created. Young said one of God’s secretaries came down to Earth to check how things were doing, and realized there was only one wild area left, still untouched. The Amazon, a huge continent made of people, animals, forests, water, and other natural resources, had then its last chance, given by God, to be preserved. Leaving aside the metaphor, the Amazon Forum was created, according to Young, with the mission of mobilizing leaders of various segments of society, governments and institutions by "fostering dialogue and cooperation to build and articulate actions aimed at an equitable and sustainable Amazon."

In mid March, 2007, several entities gathered in Alter do Chão, state of Pará, to discuss and put forward projects for the Amazon. The participants of the first meeting were the Instituto Ethos, the Instituto Socioambiental (ISA), the NGO Saúde e Alegria, indigenous leaders, and other representatives. The number of participants will increase next October, when the group will present the Charter of Principles to other entities that will comprise the Amazon Forum. Young said many businessmen are already willing to participate, which proves it is a cross-sector initiative. According to the president of Instituto Ethos, the initial idea was to create an Institute for Sustainable Studies of the Amazon. "Nevertheless, such initiative would mean the organizers are short-sighted, for what is missing is an interaction of the existing entities."