Amazon 2030 - Sustainability Issues in the World's Largest Rainforest Region

This book examines the socio-economic impacts on the indigenous populations and local communities who depend on the Amazon for their livelihood, culture, and heritage. By presenting contributions which entailed detailed research, expert interviews, and on-the-ground case studies, this book provides an in-depth analysis of the key factors contributing to the Amazon's decline, including deforestation, climate change, and illegal mining, among others. As authors venture into the year 2030, the Amazon Rainforest, often referred to as the planet's lungs, faces unprecedented challenges that threaten its existence and, by extension, the global ecosystem. This book delves into the heart of these issues, offering a comprehensive and poignant exploration of the sustainability crisis in the world's largest rainforest region.  The narrative is structured to guide readers through the intricate web of environmental, economic, and social threads that define the Amazon's current predicament. It begins with an overview of the rainforest's vital role in global biodiversity and climate regulation, setting the stage for a deeper investigation into the threats it faces. Various chapters are dedicated to specific sustainability challenges, such as the expansion of agricultural frontiers, the exploitation of natural resources, and the consequences of political and corporate decisions on conservation efforts. The book also highlights innovative solutions and initiatives underway to preserve and restore the Amazon, showcasing successful conservation projects and sustainable development practices. The book also projects potential future scenarios for the Amazon, emphasizing the urgency of concerted global action to safeguard this irreplaceable natural treasure. It calls for a holistic approach that reconciles economic development with environmental stewardship and respects the rights and knowledge of indigenous peoples. It serves as a clarion call to action, urging readers to consider the legacy authors wish to leave for future generations.

Walter Leal Filho is Senior Professor and Head of the Research and Transfer Centre "Sustainable Development and Climate Change Management” at Hamburg University of Applied Sciences in Germany, and Chair of Environment and Technology at Manchester Metropolitan University, UK. He is Initiator of the Word Sustainable Development Symposia (WSSD-U) series, and chairs the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme. Professor Leal Filho has written, co-written, edited or co-edited more than 700 publications, including books, book chapters and papers in refereed journals.

Laís Viera Trevisan is Project Manager and Research Associate at the Hamburg University of Applied Sciences, Germany. Her research interests are sustainability, technology and innovation for sustainable development, smart campuses and education for sustainability. She leads two research groups in the sustainability field: the Inter-University Sustainable Development Research Programme (IUSDRP) and the European-North American Sustainability Research Consortium (ENASRC).

Gabriel Costa is a Meteorologist (UFPA), with Ph.D. in Sciences (Applied Ecology, USP) currently effective Professor at Universidade Federal do oeste do Pará (Ufopa, Pará State- Brazil). Research interest in biosphere-atmosphere interactions, with special emphasis on the energy fluxes, Greenhouse gases emissions, renewable and sustainable energy, biogeochemistry cycles over tropical ecosystems. This includes the interaction between climate and health correlations, by air pollution and thermal comfort.

Ismar Borges de Lima is Senior Professor, Level V: State University of Roraima―UERR, Brazil (2012–present). Director in Brazil for the Latin American Foundation for Research on Science, Nature and Tourism―RECINATUR Foundation (2014–present). Adjunct-Lecturer and postdoc Studies at Southern Cross University (SCU, Australia, 2016–2019). Ph.D. holder by the Waikato University, New Zealand (2004–2008). Master’s degree in international relations at the International University of Japan―IUJ (2000–2004), Internship at UNESCAP, Bangkok, Thailand in 2001. Professional training at the Radio Nederland Training Centre, The Netherlands (1995). Academic expedition and seminars in Africa: Botswana, Mozambique, Kenya, Swaziland, and South Africa (2018).