Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization facts for kids
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Member states of ACTO
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| Abbreviation | ACTO |
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| Established | 25 February 1995 |
| Headquarters | Brasília, Brazil |
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Membership
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Official languages
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Secretary-General
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Martin von Hildebrand |
| Website | otca.org |
The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) is a special group of countries. These countries work together to protect the amazing Amazon Basin. The Amazon Basin is a huge area in South America. It includes the Amazon River and the world's largest rainforest.
ACTO helps its member countries work towards sustainable development. This means using the Amazon's resources in a way that meets today's needs without harming the environment for future generations. The group also helps protect the unique plants and animals found there.
The idea for ACTO started with the Amazon Cooperation Treaty (ACT). This agreement was signed on July 3, 1978. ACTO itself was created in 1995 to make sure the treaty's goals were met. Later, in 2002, a main office called the Permanent Secretariat was set up in Brasília, Brazil.
Who Are the Members?
ACTO has eight member countries. All of these countries have a part of the Amazon rainforest within their borders. They work together to share ideas and plans for protecting this important region.
The member countries are:
What About Observers?
Sometimes, other countries or groups are invited to watch ACTO's meetings. They are called "observers." They don't have the same voting power as members, but they can learn and share information.
Some countries that have been observers include:
- France (because of French Guiana in South America)
- Democratic Republic of the Congo
- Republic of the Congo
- Indonesia
These observer countries are important because they also have large rainforests in other parts of the world. They can share their experiences and learn from ACTO.
The 2023 ACTO Summit
In August 2023, the member countries of ACTO held an important meeting called a summit. This summit took place in Brazil. Leaders from the eight member countries came together to talk about how to better protect the Amazon.
They discussed ways to stop deforestation (cutting down trees). They also talked about how to fight climate change and help the people who live in the Amazon.
For the 2023 summit, Brazil invited some special guests. These included the Democratic Republic of the Congo, the Republic of the Congo, and Indonesia. These countries were invited because they have their own large rainforests. The Congo rainforests are in Africa, and Indonesia has rainforests on islands like Borneo and Sumatra. By inviting them, ACTO hoped to share knowledge about protecting rainforests globally.
