Amazon's Fate Hinges On Both Forests And Cities - Inter-American Development Bank

(MENAFN- Trend News Agency) BAKU, Azerbaijan, May 20. The future of the Amazon will be determined not only by the condition of its forests, but also by urban development, Juan Pablo Bonilla, Manager of the Inter-American Development Bank Climate Change and Sustainable Development Sector (CSD), Trend reports.

He made the statement during a session titled“Stories from the Climate Frontlines” at WUF13.

Pablo Bonilla noted that today, special attention must be paid to two important regions of Latin America and the Caribbean, the Amazon and the Caribbean, as well as the role of cities in their development.

“First and foremost, the future of the Amazon will be determined not only by its forests but also by its cities. Protecting this unique biome requires working together with Amazonian cities to promote a more sustainable model of growth, governance, and financing. In this context, the sustainability of the Amazon has effectively become an urban agenda,” he said.

He emphasized that in the Caribbean region, population resilience is a prerequisite for development, and cities play a key role in risk forecasting, protecting the population, and sustaining the economy.

According to him, the Amazon is home to about 60 million people, more than 70% of whom live in urban areas. At the same time, the region is approaching a tipping point due to a combination of deforestation, inequality, and uncontrolled urbanization linked to illegal activities.

He noted that in the Caribbean, cities are hubs for population, tourism, and vital services, yet they remain extremely vulnerable to hurricanes, floods, and other disasters capable of wiping out years of investment.

“The overall goal is to better link human development and financing to achieve meaningful impact in the regions and ensure resilience before, during, and after climate change,” he said.

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