Thousands of fires are ravaging the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil - the most intense blazes for almost a decade
Seven countries in South America have agreed on measures to protect the Amazon Basin from global concerns over massive fires in the world's largest rainforest.
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru and Suriname have signed a pact establishing a disaster response network and satellite monitoring.
At a summit in Colombia, they also agreed to work on reforestation.
More than 80,000 fires have broken out in the Amazon jungle this year.
"This meeting will be a coordinating mechanism for the presidents who share this treasure: the Amazon," said Colombian President Iván Duque, who organized the summit in the city of Leticia.
At the same time, Peruvian President MartÃn Vizcarra said: "Goodwill is not enough anymore."
The seven nations also agreed to make greater efforts in education and to strengthen the role of Aboriginal communities.
Countries were represented in Leticia by presidents, vice-presidents and ministers.
Brazilian far-right president Jair Bolsonaro took part in a video link because he was preparing for an operation.
What's the background to this?
The Amazon is a vital reservoir of carbon that slows global warming. 60% is in Brazil.
According to the country's National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), the number of fires between January and August 2019 is twice that of the same period last year.
President Bolsonaro has been strongly criticized nationally and internationally for failing to protect the region.
Environmentalists say their policies have led to an increase in fires this year and they have been encouraging farmers to clean up vast areas of the rainforest since their election last October.
Bolivia has also been affected by forest fires near its borders with Brazil and Paraguay.
At the same time, the leading group of the Brazilian meat export and agricultural companies has joined an environmental campaign calling for the end of deforestation on Amazonian public lands and demanding action by government.
Several international retailers have announced that they are suspending their purchases of Brazilian leather because of links between livestock and fires that devastate part of the Amazon rainforest.
According to the country's National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), the number of fires between January and August 2019 is twice that of the same period last year.
President Bolsonaro has been strongly criticized nationally and internationally for failing to protect the region.
Environmentalists say their policies have led to an increase in fires this year and they have been encouraging farmers to clean up vast areas of the rainforest since their election last October.
Bolivia has also been affected by forest fires near its borders with Brazil and Paraguay.
At the same time, the leading group of the Brazilian meat export and agricultural companies has joined an environmental campaign calling for the end of deforestation on Amazonian public lands and demanding action by government.
Several international retailers have announced that they are suspending their purchases of Brazilian leather because of links between livestock and fires that devastate part of the Amazon rainforest.
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