Stretching across nine countries, the Amazon is the world’s largest tropical rainforest and river system, roughly 150 times the size of Switzerland. Home to extraordinary biodiversity and more than 50 million people, including hundreds of Indigenous communities whose knowledge has shaped the forest for centuries, it is far from an untouched wilderness. Amazonia is a living territory that also plays a critical role in regulating climate and rainfall far beyond South America, making its future inseparable from global environmental stability.

Building on this understanding, Swissnex used the momentum of COP30 in Belém to launch the report Switzerland and Amazonia: Together for a Thriving Planet. Developed through interviews, surveys, and desk research, with support from its international networks, the report maps a community of Swiss organizations committed to sustainable, impact-driven co-creation with the Amazon’s knowledge systems and innovation ecosystem.

The report highlights a range of collaborative initiatives — from ETH Zurich researchers developing cutting-edge applications in drones, satellite imagery, eDNA sampling, and AI to support environmental monitoring, to joint projects between ZHAW and the University of Campinas (Brazil) addressing sustainability challenges in cocoa production. It also features global platforms such as 1t.org, launched by the World Economic Forum to help conserve, restore, and grow one trillion trees by 2030, and GainForest, a nonprofit organization that supports grassroots communities by using Web3 technologies to reward verified conservation efforts and generate sustainable income.

More than a catalog of Switzerland’s engagement with Amazonia, the report aims to highlight shared priorities, encourage dialogue, and identify opportunities for deeper collaboration by strengthening the sense of community.

From COP30 to collective action: advancing the Amazon agenda

The report was launched during one of the fifteen sessions held at the Planetary Embassy pavilion, presented by Swissnex at the Goeldi Museum in Belém during COP30 in November 2025. The launch event celebrated collaboration between Switzerland and Amazonian partners while centering the voices of those who live in the forest. Representatives of the organizations featured in the mapping, researchers, entrepreneurs, Indigenous leaders, and cultural actors shared insights and reflections on what responsible, lasting collaboration entails, reinforcing the importance of reciprocity, respect for local knowledge, and long-term partnerships.

Following up on the work presented at the conference, early outcomes, including case studies and academic theses, already highlight its potential to stimulate knowledge exchange and encourage joint innovation. As the report continues to expand, incorporating new Swiss initiatives across the Amazon region, it also serves as a living platform that connects actors and supports responses for a thriving and resilient planet.