What 1978 treaty created cooperation among Amazon Basin countries?

The Amazon Cooperation Treaty created cooperation among Amazon Basin countries in 1978.

The treaty was signed in Brasília on 3 July 1978 by Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, Suriname, and Venezuela. Its purpose was to promote cooperation over the Amazon Basin while affirming the countries’ sovereignty over their natural resources and territories.

The agreement addressed areas such as scientific research, transportation, communication, health, conservation, and the sustainable use of Amazonian resources. It reflected the shared reality that rivers, forests, and environmental problems cross political borders.

The treaty later supported the creation of the Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization, commonly known by its Spanish and Portuguese initials as OTCA or ACTO. French Guiana is geographically part of the Guiana Shield and the wider Amazon region, but it is not an independent signatory because it is an overseas department of France.