Interactive Discussion

From Allison Pecenka on Knowledge Management

(In reference to Chapter (30) of the Science Panel for the Amazon Report)

When reading the bioeconomy chapter of the Science Panel for the Amazon Report (Ch 30), I first identified the strategies stated by the authors as necessary steps to achieving a “new bioeconomy” before outlining potential actions that can be taken by conservation advocates to help implement those strategies at scale. One of the first strategies or premises stated for the successful emergence of a new bioeconomy was the recognition of Amazon Socio-biodiversity as a vital component to improved living conditions for all life on Earth. With this comes the realization that stated Socio-biodiversity aids in mitigation of climate change-related variables which affect all people on the planet, regardless of their income, status or geographic location. This also includes the fact that standing forests and flowing rivers of the Amazon are one of the most efficient providers of ecosystem services essential for life on Earth to survive and flourish. I found the most important action to be taken by conservation advocates related to this point was increased education on this linkage of tropical forests and environmental well-being. Increased education on this topic would have to span across the board and be improved upon internationally, across all socio-economic demographics and age groups. Although beginning education on this matter at a young age through integration to school curriculums is a key component to increased awareness, adults must also be educated as they are the primary decision-makers of the current era. Adult education could be achieved through the implementation of this information into major media sources such as primary news channels, social media or advertisements on frequently trafficked websites such as YouTube, Google and Facebook.

A second strategy called for in this chapter was a changed conception of infrastructure, planned to now actually meet the needs of local populations coupled with increased environmental sensitivity and the improved commercialization of bioproducts. I believe this could be achieved through coordinated fluctuations in market demand for eco-friendly products inspired by increased awareness of those products that damage and degrade tropical forests. Once consumers are aware of which products to avoid and given alternatives that have a cleaner footprint, they can make informed decisions and create rifts in demand when compounded to a society-wide scale. This would ideally urge the companies losing income to clean up their practices and provide a more eco-friendly product for an increasingly conscious market. Conservation advocates could help facilitate this process by creating lists of top “dirty” and “clean” products as seen in the animal welfare industry with cosmetics, (https://www.peta.org/features/dirty-dozen-12-worst-ceos/), simplifying the shopping process for busy consumers. Social media could be used as an outlet for these lists with boycotts of damaging products encouraged along with something as simple as coupon codes or discounts for eco-friendly alternatives (awarded to conservation organizations by companies for the free advertisement provided). I believe the true power for this strategy should come from the public who historically hold great control over supply and demand curves and have the power to incite changes in production chains by decreasing revenue to targeted companies. As far as a changed conception of infrastructure, investments in long-term, high yield energy and agricultural operations that could only benefit the local communities rather than harm them are necessary. Within this lies the condition that resources yielded from these infrastructure projects must first provide for the local community and supplement their economy before being outsourced to nearby urban areas and states. Ideally, infrastructure such as non-invasive solar power grids (panels on rooftops) and small-scale wind-power generation could provide clean and sustainable power to local communities without degrading their forests or altering the flow of their rivers, while giving them autonomy over their own power and eliminating the need to coordinate with outside providers to attain energy for desired development (access to Wi-Fi, electricity, infrastructure etc. An additional thought I had was an alternative to increased degradation of forests by land clearing for cattle farming purposes, that being investments in cultured meat infrastructure. Cultured meat eliminates the need for large expanses of land and wasteful amount of water to farm and raise cattle, completely eliminates methane emissions from the cattle themselves, and actually provides a cleaner product and higher yield for producers. Prioritizing local communities and states to invest in cultured meat startups or showing potential profit margins to cattle farmers could inspire a change in their behavior.   

The final strategy touched on was the fostering of investments in teaching and research organizations in all regions of the Amazon. This could be achieved through institutional investments in relevant, local research projects and international collaborations with institutions supporting leading ecological/ sustainable development programs. Conservation advocates could help promote these partnerships through sharing the news of any opportunities for incentivized research degree programs to top students in related fields (national + international), especially those who are degree-seeking and intending to conduct relevant research. These students could be incentivized to live in these regions for long-term periods by being provided with complete tuition packages, living stipends health-care benefits, etc. Scholarships for such research topics could also be provided by conservation advocates if local/ state funding was unable to be obtained. Upon graduation, tenured research positions at Universities in the Amazon region could be offered with attractive benefits to promote scientist retention in the area and cultivate globally-renowned research programs to attract top researchers/ students in the future.

These Are the 12 Worst CEOs for Animals Imprisoned in Laboratories. (2013). PETA. https://www.peta.org/features/dirty-dozen-12-worst-ceos/
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