UNESCO is bringing together more than 30 leading scientists from Amazonian countries to discuss biosphere reserves, biodiversity conservation and sustainable development in South America.

The international seminar – an initiative of UNESCO’s Man and the Biosphere (MAB) programme, the Federal University of Latin American Integration (UNILA) and the UNESCO chair in South-South Cooperation for Sustainable Development of the Federal University of Pará – will take place in Foz de Iguaçu, Brazil between 22 to 25 April.

During the seminar, issues relating to the Amazon and the challenges of tourist/economic development and regional integration will be discussed, as well as population mobility in areas of the Amazon. The session will also analyse the results from the Rural Sustainable Development and Conservation of Biodiversity in the Amazon Biosphere Reserves and what impact that will have on South America’s rainforests – with particular interest paid to the Itaipu hydro-electric dam and Iguacu National Park, a UNESCO-listed natural World Heritage site.