On 22 April, International Earth Day and the 10th anniversary of Laudato Si’, Iamazonia was launched at the Ara Pacis in Rome. Following the passing of Pope Francis on 21 April, the event, in keeping with the circumstances, honored the moment and reflected on the legacy of Laudato Sì, the 2015 encyclical calling for “care for our common home” and advancing the principle of integral ecology that links environmental protection with social justice. This vision provided inspiration for the gathering.
The conference: Iamazonia: Regenerative Nature-Based Solutions for Our Common Future, brought together government leaders, academics, investors, and civil society. Moderated by Financial Times correspondent Amy Kazmin, it featured contributions from Kathleen Rogers (Earth Day), Prof. Giovanni Tria (Chair of Iamazonia), and Gaetano Buglisi (Founder and CEO of Iamazonia). Addressing the gathering via video, COP30 President André Corrêa do Lago emphasized the role of high-integrity forest projects like Mejuruá in advancing climate goals ahead of COP30 in Belém.
Iamazonia works through long-term partnerships to deliver whole-ecosystem projects that integrate conservation with social development and sustainable livelihoods. At the center of this approach is Projeto Mejuruá, the first flagship initiative in the Médio Juruá. Covering 903,000 hectares, the project protects standing forest while investing in clean water, renewable energy, internet access, education, and income generation (including açaí processing). Carbon credits play a limited but important role: they help secure financial viability while channeling value back into local priorities under Iamazonia’s standards and governance.
The Government of the State of Amazonas is a partner of the project, including on the establishment of a local branch of the Forest School (Escola da Floresta) in Carauari. Representing Governor Wilson Lima, Chief of Staff Flávio Antony Filho said:
Keynote speech by Kathleen Rogers, President of Earth Day Network
“Preserving the forest has a very high price, and not everyone is willing to pay it. Amazonas has 97% of its forest preserved. This is not just an environmental statistic; it is a global heritage that demands responsibility, recognition, and international support.”
Further contributions came from Prof. Alexander More (Harvard University), who presented evidence on links between climate, environment, and public health, and from Prof. Virgilio Viana, Chair of Fundação Amazônia Sustentável (FAS), who spoke about pathways to scale conservation with social impact. During the event, Iamazonia also signed a Letter of Intent with Caritas Internationalis to help ensure that projects are guided by integral human development and environmental justice.
Speech by Flávio Antony Filho, Chief of Staff to the Governor of the State of Amazonas
For Iamazonia, this launch is both a new beginning and a tribute: the start of a global effort to advance regenerative nature-based solutions, and a moment to honor the spirit of Laudato Sì. The model shows how open partnership, responsible use of carbon finance, and rigorous standards can deliver measurable benefits for families and ecosystems, and offer a template others can follow with integrity.