Strengthening the Transdisciplinary Network of the Amazon (RETA) for Advancing Climate Justice and Democratic Participation

The Purus-Madeira interfluve, one of the most preserved regions of the Amazon in Brazil, faces escalating threats from illegal deforestation driven by logging, mining, industrial-scale agriculture, and cattle ranching. These pressures disproportionately impact Indigenous and traditional populations, particularly women and young people, who are on the front lines of defending their territories. In response, the Transdisciplinary Network of the Amazon (RETA) was established to foster a collaborative model of governance that integrates climate justice and democratic participation. In democratic regimes, the dynamics of collaboration and conflict often reveal tensions between local communities and external stakeholders, such as government agencies, corporations, and NGOs. Local communities possess deep knowledge of their environment and sustainable practices, but their voices are frequently marginalized in decision-making processes dominated by external actors. RETA counters this marginalization by building solidarity with these communities and ensuring their active role in governance. By leveraging a network of local communities, public authorities, artists, and civil society organizations, RETA focuses on biodiversity conservation and advocates for collective action. RETA exemplifies how grassroots movements in Latin America can amplify the voices of vulnerable populations and mobilize collective efforts for social and environmental justice. Its transdisciplinary approach offers valuable insights into how social movements can drive both climate justice and democratic reform, particularly in regions facing environmental and political crises.

RETA is a collective that de-emphasizes individual authorship; therefore, this abstract is attributed to RETA. Contributors to the writing (in alphabetical order) include: Cláudio Bueno, Jolemia Chagas, Dionéia Ferreira, Ligia Nobre, and Eduardo Staszowski.