activities
Life in the Amazon
With 5 million km² and more than 20 million inhabitants, the Legal Amazon corresponds to approximately 58.93% of the Brazilian territory (IBGE). The Amazon rainforest is a vital biome for the planet, home to thousands of species of birds, fish, plants, and mammals and to a rich diversity of Indigenous peoples and traditional populations.
The Role of the Amazon in Climate Stability
The Amazon rainforest plays a strategic role in the planet’s climate regulation and environmental stability, releasing trillions of tons of water into the atmosphere and discharging 20% of all fresh water into the oceans (Capobianco, 2002).
Ongoing threats to the biome
Despite its importance, the Amazon faces daily pressures, especially due to changes in land use. Agricultural expansion and mining activities are among the biggest challenges, with deforestation growing by 22.3% in 2022 (Mapbiomas, 2022). Burning is a common strategy to clear land for agriculture. However, this practice, combined with illegal deforestation, degrades soil, reduces productivity, and contributes significantly to global warming.
Health impacts
Poor air quality due to forest fires causes 15 million cases of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases every year, at a cost of USD2 billion. Children, the elderly and low-income populations are most vulnerable to these harmful effects. Pollutants can spread up to 500 km, affecting neighboring states and countries (Nature, 2023).
Lack of monitoring
The gap in air monitoring activities in the Amazon prevents the creation of effective policies. States in the North and Central-West regions often do not monitor air quality (Instituto Ar, 2021), thus ignoring the multiple sources of atmospheric pollution, such as fires, industrial processes, and agroforestry activities. Without concrete data, the population is unaware of the dangers they face, and decision-makers are left uninformed.
Innovation and agility in air data collection
Low-cost equipment can serve as additional tools for monitoring air quality. These technologies, although non-regulatory, offer a viable alternative and can help manage air quality in real-time.
Our strategies to protect health and air in the Amazon
The institutions that make up the Respira Amazônia Coalition combine different skills and expertise to apply air quality monitoring technologies.
Development of scientific research to understand and address the challenges of air pollution in the Amazon.
Use of new monitoring technologies to ensure scalability and efficiency.
Connecting institutions that are at the forefront of implementing and managing low-cost sensors to monitor air quality in real-time
Analysis of collected data to make informed and strategic decisions.
Promotion of public administration and legal mechanisms to improve emissions management and control policies.
Organizing regular thematic meetings to advance strategic objectives, especially the expansion of air monitoring.
Promoting regular meetings to strengthen ties between organizations and increase their impact in the region.
Our axes of activity
We have divided the Coalition’s initiatives into specific axes to better achieve our objectives:
Technical / Infrastructure
In this axis, the main goal is to identify practical and accessible solutions to monitor air quality in the Amazon, from the installation of sensors to their maintenance to ensure that the technology is at the service of the forest.
Data
The data hub seeks to transform complex data into clear and accessible information, so that anyone can understand the air quality situation in the Amazon.
Fundraising
This axis aims to expand the monitoring network and ensure accurate and updated data for decision-making.
Scientific publications
The scientific publications axis focuses on stimulating the production of cutting-edge research and disseminating results to the scientific community and the general public to influence public policies and promote forest conservation.
Indigenous Peoples
In this axis, we seek partnerships with Indigenous peoples to raise awareness about the impacts of air pollution in their communities and strengthen their voices in the fight to protect the forest.
Impact on Health and the Environment
This axis seeks to investigate the effects of air pollution on human health and Amazonian ecosystems, seeking solutions to improve people’s quality of life and preserve the forest.
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