Amazon at a tipping point: UNFF21 calls to accelerate global action against deforestation
The Amazon is approaching critical deforestation thresholds that could trigger irreversible impacts on the global climate, biodiversity, and water systems. In this context, experts, leaders, and citizens issued an urgent call during the United Nations Forum on Forests (UNFF21) to prioritize the region in the global roadmap aimed at halting and reversing forest loss by 2030.
The message was unequivocal: without the Amazon, global climate and biodiversity goals cannot be achieved. This was the central focus of the side event “From commitments to action: a roadmap to end deforestation in the Amazon”, which brought together science, policy, and society to align concrete solutions to one of the world’s most pressing environmental challenges.
© The Science Panel for the Amazon - SPA
In the photo, from right to left:
Receiving the signatures from the Amazon League: Minoru Takada—Deputy Director of the UNFF—and Marco Tulio Scarpelli Cabral—Coordinator of the COP30 Presidency Roadmap—Government of Brazil. Delivering the Amazon League’s signatures: María Inés Rivadeneira H. – Policy Lead at WWF Latin America and the Caribbean, and Alexandra Gómez Arias – Communications Director at WWF Colombia.
Evidence points the way: where and how to act
The discussions were grounded in new evidence that clearly identifies the drivers of deforestation. The Amazon Footprint Report shows that nearly 80% of deforestation in the Amazon is linked to pasture expansion for cattle ranching, while crops such as soy, palm oil, coffee, and cocoa continue to drive forest loss both directly and indirectly.
This analysis provides a critical opportunity to act in targeted and effective ways in the short term.
“Thanks to this study, we now have clarity on deforestation dynamics at the subnational level, allowing us to identify concrete and targeted actions. This creates a real opportunity to reduce deforestation in the short term if public policies, institutional coordination, and market decisions are aligned,” said Pablo Pacheco, WWF Global Forest Practice Lead Scientist.
In this context, advancing deforestation- and conversion-free (DCF) supply chains stands out as one of the most immediate and effective solutions to halt forest loss.
Progress is possible—but remains fragile
Some Amazon countries have shown that change is possible. Recent data indicates reductions in deforestation in countries such as Brazil and Colombia, driven by strengthened public policies and their effective enforcement.
However, these gains remain vulnerable. In 2025, the region lost 2.5 million hectares of primary forest, a significant share of which was linked to wildfires.
Key structural risks persist:
- Increasing wildfires in countries such as Bolivia
- Continued expansion of agricultural and livestock frontiers
- Potential rollbacks of key policy mechanisms, such as Brazil’s Soy Moratorium
These factors highlight that current progress can be reversed without sustained and coordinated action.
From ambition to implementation
During the event, the Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA) emphasized the need to ground decisions in the best available scientific evidence, prioritizing high-impact interventions in the short term.
Participants also stressed that the global deforestation roadmap, promoted in the context of COP30, must rapidly translate into tangible action in the region. This requires:
- Stronger governance
- Increased financing
- Effective coordination among stakeholders
- A just transition that supports local communities and producers
“The Amazon is reaching a critical point. Halting deforestation requires immediate action, with ambition, coordination, and political commitment,” said María Inés Rivadeneira, Policy Lead for WWF Latin America and the Caribbean.
A growing call from society
The call for action is no longer limited to science and policy circles. During UNFF21, more than 20,000 citizen signatures were delivered to international representatives through the Amazon League campaign, reinforcing the urgency to accelerate decisions and investments.
“Protecting the Amazon means protecting water, climate stability, food security, and the quality of life of millions of people. This is no longer just an environmental call—it reflects a growing societal demand for action,” said Alexandra Gómez, Communications Lead for the Amazon Coordination Unit.
The Amazon: a global tipping point
The global context further underscores the urgency. The Global Forest Goals Report 2026 presented at UNFF21 reveals that the world is still far from ending the forest crisis: between 2015 and 2025, more than 40 million hectares of forest were lost, including a substantial loss of primary forests.
In this scenario, the Amazon emerges as a decisive territory.
It represents both the greatest risk and the greatest opportunity for global climate action.
There is sufficient evidence, technical knowledge, and proven solutions.
The outcome now depends on a single factor: the speed of implementation.
What is at stake
The message from UNFF21 is clear: it is time to move from commitments to action. Prioritizing the Amazon in the global roadmap to halt deforestation is not only a strategic decision—it is essential to ensure climate stability, safeguard biodiversity, and secure a sustainable future for millions of people.
