SPA Launches New Science–Policy White Paper at GCF Task Force Annual Meeting
Members of the Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA) took part in the 16th Annual Meeting of the Governors' Climate and Forests Task Force (GCF Task Force), held from May 18 to 22, 2026, in Florencia, Caquetá, Colombia. There, they joined a series of important conversations relevant to the Amazonian region and shared key messages and recommendations from the SPA.
On May 21, the SPA launched a new White Paper, titled "From Knowledge to Action: Strengthening the Science–Policy Interface for the Future of the Amazon." The paper argues that the future of the Amazon will depend not only on what we know about the forest and the people who live there, but also on how effectively scientists, policymakers, and Amazonian communities are able to translate knowledge into policy action. Drawing on expert consultations, it proposes practical pathways for strengthening the science–policy interface, taking into account the diverse realities of Amazonian countries.
The launch was hosted by Colleen Scanlan Lyons, Lead Author of the White Paper and Senior Director for Bioeconomy & Engagement at the GCF Task Force. Scanlan opened by welcoming Eduardo Taveira, Amazonas State Secretary for the Environment (Brazil), who was among the experts consulted during the paper's development. Taveira emphasized that the Amazon is at a decisive moment: while extensive scientific knowledge already exists about the region's challenges, the real obstacle lies in translating that knowledge into concrete action. He argued that strengthening science-policy connections is not enough unless governments also commit the resources, financing, and implementation mechanisms needed to put proven solutions into practice.
Taveira also stressed that Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities should not bear the costs of conservation alone. Describing them as providers of a global service that benefits the entire planet, he called for fair recognition and compensation through measures such as direct payments, land tenure security, and a viable socio-bioeconomy. His central message was that conserving the Amazon should not be a sacrifice demanded of the most vulnerable, but rather the outcome of a more just and inclusive development model.
Next, Germán Poveda, SPA Author and former member of the SPA’s Science Steering Committee, delivered a powerful call to turn knowledge into action for the Amazon. Poveda noted that both scientific evidence and the knowledge held by Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities already provide a strong foundation for addressing the region's challenges. With approximately 35% of the Amazon already affected by deforestation and the region nearing critical ecological tipping points, he underscored the urgent need to strengthen science-policy interfaces, acknowledge and give visibility to Indigenous and local knowledge systems, and foster greater collaboration across sectors. His remarks echoed one of the White Paper's central messages: the future of the Amazon depends on turning knowledge into effective and lasting action.
Francisca Arara then took the floor. Arara is Head of the Department of Regulation at the Institute for Climate Change of Acre (IMC), Brazil, and Chair of the Regional Committee for Partnerships with Indigenous Peoples and Other Traditional Populations of the GCF Task Force, and was also among the experts consulted for the White Paper. Arara highlighted the essential role of Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities, and their national and international partners in conserving tropical forests. She stressed that traditional knowledge and scientific knowledge must work hand in hand, but that what remains missing is concrete action and the resources needed to turn knowledge into effective solutions.
She also emphasized the importance of strengthening the participation and leadership of women in governance processes, arguing that more inclusive and representative decision-making can help unlock opportunities for financing, food security, technological innovation, and sustainable development. Arara underscored that communities need not only knowledge, but also access to resources, technology, and public policies that are implemented transparently and effectively for the benefit of all.
Finally, Luis Francisco Ruíz Aguilar, Governor of Caquetá and host of the GCF Task Force meeting, took the stage to emphasize that effective public policies must be grounded in a clear understanding of local realities and built through collaboration among communities, Indigenous Peoples, governments, and academia. He noted that combining this collective effort with adequate financing can help ensure that policies are successfully implemented on the ground. He also pointed to the importance of technology and reliable information systems as essential tools for informed decision-making, arguing that accessible and trustworthy data should play a central role in the design and implementation of public policies.
Closing the presentation of the White Paper, Scalan highlighted the need to strengthen interaction and collaboration across sectors. While scientific knowledge, technology, and academia are essential, she noted, meaningful progress will require closer engagement with governors and other policymakers, Indigenous Peoples, and Local Communities, who are already shaping and implementing solutions on the ground. She reinforced that bridging the gap between knowledge and action depends on bringing together diverse actors and knowledge systems to co-create and implement more effective and inclusive policies for the Amazon.
From Knowledge to Action: What the White Paper Proposes
Based on expert consultations, the White Paper proposes several practical pathways for strengthening the science–policy interface, taking into account the different realities of Amazonian countries. These pathways fall into four categories: establishing context-specific science–policy bridges that serve as sustained spaces for dialogue; creating rapid-response expert task forces to support decision-making; strengthening science communication and diplomacy; and developing living laboratories and innovation centers for testing and learning from potential solutions. The White Paper also argues that an effective science–policy interface must be inclusive, intercultural, multilevel, agile, and transboundary — and that it must be grounded in trust, built through sustained engagement, humility, and mutual learning.
The conversations held in Florencia reflected these same priorities: turning existing knowledge into action, recognizing the role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities, and building the collaborative spaces needed to move from diagnosis to implementation.
