The role of universities in promoting sustainable development in the Amazon was one of the central points debated during the 30th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 30), held between November 10 and 21, 2025, in Belém. According to the Pro Tempore President of the Brazilian Chapter of the Association of Amazonian Universities (UNAMAZ) and Rector of the Federal University of Western Pará (UFOPA), Professor Aldenize Xavier, higher education institutions are fundamental in transforming knowledge into concrete solutions for the region.

"It is precisely through universities that knowledge is transformed into action. Traditional knowledge is essential for preserving our environment, and the university is the path to transforming this knowledge into effective practices," he emphasized.

The professor emphasizes that the integration between ancestral knowledge—from indigenous peoples, quilombola communities, and riverside communities—and academic research has proven to be possible and efficient, as demonstrated by projects developed within the scope of UNAMAZ. She cites initiatives that promote new sustainable production models in territories that previously depended on deforestation.

“In areas where traditionally the forest was cleared for pasture or farming, today it is possible to keep it standing, producing honey with native bees, fishing using the culture of the riverside communities, among other productive processes,” Aldenize exemplified.

According to her, the projects conducted by Amazonian universities have combined the needs of local populations with scientific knowledge, increasing productivity and guaranteeing income generation. "It's no use talking about biodiversity and environmental protection if it doesn't improve the quality of life of the people who live here," she emphasized.

UNAMAZ Legacy

Founded in 1987 and currently chaired by Professor José Seixas Lourenço, UNAMAZ brings together 80 universities, research institutes, and institutions from the productive sector of the eight Amazonian countries: Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its 2025-2030 Strategic Plan includes 18 projects that integrate traditional and scientific knowledge.

According to Professor Aldenize Xavier, UNAMAZ's participation in COP 30 was a crucial opportunity to showcase the intellectual capital already consolidated by its member institutions. "UNAMAZ demonstrated that we have an established scientific production. In Brazil alone, there are 65 accredited institutions, and this legacy is already showing concrete results," highlighted the Pro Tempore President of the UNAMAZ Brazil Chapter and rector of UFOPA.