UK-Brazil Year of Science & Innovation

As a direct result of Sir David King’s visit to Manaus in March 2007, the "I Workshop on Valuation of Amazonian Rainfall" organised in Manaus in July 19^th and 20^th discussed the economic valuation of Amazonian Rainfall as an influence in the weather of other regions of Brazil and of the world.

Key-speakers from British and Brazilian scientific communities presented in the workshop; Carlos Nobre (INPE), Reynaldo Victoria (USP), John Gash (CEH), Virgílio Viana (SDS), Antônio Manzi (INPA), Eneas Salati (USP), Douglas Clark (CEH), Anita Wreford (Tydall Centre for Climate Change Research), Dominic Moran (Scottish Agricultural College), and Richard Harding (CEH) among others.

The workshop was organised in one day with presentations opened to the public and another with closed discussion among the specialists. It’s major theme was the importance of Amazonian rainfall for the regulation of the world’s weather and the value of this "environmental service". In the closed meeting, British and Brazilian scientists and metereologists calculated the average water produced by one hectare of forest per year and the amount of water that all forests from Amazônia and the state of Amazonas produce per year.

In general the workshop was extremely successful and can be considered a important step in the attempt to preserv the Amazon. Considering its economic role and how it influences the weather in regions that depend on the rain for production (soy beans in the south Brazil, for example), we have given a important step forward into regional sustainable development. At the end of the meeting a document entitled "Rio Negro Letter" holds the comproved facts and conclusions taken, which will be published by the States Government of Amazonas.

The workshop was organised by the State Government of Amazonas through the Secretary of Sustainable Development (SDS) in partnership with the British Embassy in Brazil, through the UK-Brazil Year of Science & Innovation. Also supported the event FAPEAM, SECT, CEH - Centre for Ecology and Hydrology and ESRC - Economic & Social Research Council.