Concordia Amazon Bellagio Convening: Briefing

Overview

Concordia convened a multi-day, cross-sectoral gathering focused on advancing sustainable, inclusive, and scalable solutions for the Amazon region. This strategic convening brought together private and public sector organizations, non-profits, international organizations, and others to explore actionable pathways that elevate environmental stewardship, nature-based solutions, and bioeconomic development.

The gathering was divided into two groups, Finance and Industry tracks, to explore various issues, present to one another on existing projects, and explore avenues where collaborative efforts could accelerate the goals of those present. 

Core Discussions

Each track received presentations from Concordia staff and participants on multiple topics. The Industry track received briefings covering E-Liability’s Carbon Accounting project, Coca-Cola’s work in protecting water and wetlands in Brazil, and insights from Pachamama Foundation on Indigenous Community Engagement. 

The Finance track heard from Crossboundry about scaling capital commitments to emerging markets, implementing sustainable finance projects by BTG Pactual, and Nature Bonds from The Nature Conservancy. Each group used these opportunities to learn from what others are currently implementing and began establishing connections across their work and exploring opportunities for accelerating our collective goals. 

From this convening, several key concepts arose that our group concluded were actionable solutions that could be advanced by the collective. Below you will find a breakdown of each. 

1. 1. Scalable Nature-based Financing:

Participants emphasized the urgency and complexity of financing large-scale, nature-based solutions across the Amazon. Discussions focused on unlocking blended finance tools, such as the Tropical Forest Financing Fund and Bioeconomy Investment Vehicles (BFFs), to catalyze sustainable development. A key insight was simplifying project validation and creating pathways for institutions unfamiliar with nature-based models. The group explored structuring financial portfolios around landscapes (like watersheds), leveraging public-private partnerships, and supporting smaller-scale initiatives through successful large-scale models. There was a call to shift from purely GDP-driven metrics to new systems that value natural and human capital.

2. 2. Pan-Amazon Diplomacy: 

Pan-Amazon diplomacy emerged as a critical mechanism for integrating diverse voices, especially Indigenous communities, into regional and global dialogues. The group proposed working groups focused on building intergenerational, cross-border, and cross-sector partnerships to advance shared goals. Ideas included preparing Indigenous leaders for events like COP and UN forums, using a refugee congress model as inspiration, and aligning public narratives across countries. Strong emphasis was placed on building diplomatic and governance capacities in parallel with financial and technical initiatives, creating a foundation for unified Amazonian advocacy on the world stage.

3. 3. OPAME/MEDINA:

   This regional coalition—consisting of 17 megadiverse nations—was revisited as a powerful but underutilized diplomatic and environmental platform. Ecuador initially led the group, but political instability stalled its momentum. Participants explored pragmatic strategies to revitalize OPAME/MEDINA, proposing that foreign ministers and environment ministers reconvene to lead a new global alliance on biodiversity finance. A joint op-ed and a biodiversity summit (targeting July 23–25) were floated as tangible next steps. Moderation by respected leaders regional leaders was seen as a pathway to restoring credibility and commitment to the bloc’s original mission.

4. 4. International Wildfire Response Task Force:

This idea captured imaginations as a metaphor for a decentralized, rapid-response model to climate-driven disasters like wildfires. The group discussed creating a responsive ecosystem of resources—technology, people, and data—that could be dispatched to environmental emergencies with the same efficiency and accessibility as ride-sharing platforms. The model reflects a broader call for innovation in climate response infrastructure, especially in remote areas of the Amazon. Tied to this was a conversation on capacity-building for local governments and the potential of startups to provide tech-based solutions in fragile ecosystems.

These were key discussion pieces that our group at Bellagio will continue to explore and build. However, they are not the only topics covered at the Amazonas Initiative gathering. We encourage all those who participate in this initiative to bring their objectives to the table and find partners and allies who can assist in scaling and expanding their projects. Some other topics that will continue to be included in our discussion include: 

Indigenous Community Engagement & Rights: Ensuring ambitious projects take stakeholders on the ground into account, focusing on territorial rights, proper consultation processes, and community-led governance.

Innovation for Sustainability: Emphasizing the role of technology, data governance, and private sector engagement in accelerating impact. 

Youth Engagement: Finding mechanisms to involve young people in projects and initiatives, ensuring widespread awareness, and contributing to the longevity of projects 

Communications Campaigns: Ensuring that projects are properly communicated is a critical aspect when many climate initiatives must justify their existence.  

Strategic Opportunities for Engagement  

COP30 Programming: Projects and coalitions are invited to align with Concordia for high-visibility platforms at COP30.

Pan-Amazon Working Groups: Ongoing efforts to build the infrastructure, financial tools, and diplomatic coalitions to drive regional progress.

2025 Annual Summit: Using Concordia’s flagship event alongside the UNGA to bring actionable solutions to a broad and influential audience. Space at the summit for our Amazonas Initiative will leverage Concordia’s community. 

Conclusion  

The Bellagio convening marked a powerful step forward in shaping an ambitious, collaborative agenda for the Amazon. From scalable nature-based financing to bold new frameworks for Pan-Amazon diplomacy and rapid climate response, the conversations demonstrated the unparalleled potential that emerges when finance, industry, Indigenous leadership, and innovation align. Participants didn’t just exchange ideas—they identified tangible paths forward, forged partnerships, and laid the groundwork for collective action.

The Concordia Amazonas Initiative is more than a forum—it’s a launchpad. It is a space where projects become partnerships, where regional challenges meet global visibility, and where ideas evolve into investment-ready solutions. Whether you’re driving capital toward biodiversity, advocating for territorial rights, or innovating tech for climate resilience, your voice and leadership have a place in this growing coalition.

We invite you to bring your mission to the table, help shape the future of the Amazon, and join a community that turns commitment into impact. The time to act—together—is now.

To get involved, contact the Concordia team at partnerships@concodia.net and become part of the Amazonas Initiative.