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The IAI Science Advisory Committee (SAC) is seeking nominations from Parties to fill two vacancies occurring in June 2024, specifically for experts in Terrestrial Ecosystems and Economics and/or Development Studies. The committee emphasizes the need for international scientific recognition, academic excellence, and a commitment to balanced representation, noting a current underrepresentation of Central America and the Caribbean.

The IAI's Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) is seeking nominations for two vacancies arising from the expiration of mandates for Anahí Urquiza and Omar R. López in June 2024. The committee specifically seeks experts in Terrestrial Ecosystems (Natural Sciences) and Economics or Development Studies (Social Sciences), with a particular goal of increasing representation from Central America and the Caribbean. Nominations, including a CV, must be submitted by April 19, 2024, for election during the Conference of the Parties on May 22-23, 2024.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and DiploCientifica have signed a Letter of Understanding to collaborate on projects involving research, innovation, and capacity building to strengthen scientific diplomacy and address regional challenges in the Americas.

The report analyzes the effectiveness of protected areas (APs) in the MAP region (Brazil, Peru, and Bolivia) in mitigating forest fires from 2000 to 2020. It finds that while APs significantly reduce fire occurrence compared to unprotected areas, they remain vulnerable to extreme climate events and increasing human pressure from surrounding deforestation and agribusiness.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and the Organization of Ibero-American States for Education, Science and Culture (OEI) have signed a five-year framework agreement to collaborate on global change research and scientific diplomacy. The agreement focuses on activities at the interface of science and policy, including administrative support, technical assistance, and capacity building. Specific projects will be detailed in subsequent complementary acts, which will define budgets, human resources, and intellectual property rights. The agreement does not create immediate financial obligations for either party.

The IAI Strategic Plan 2024–2030 focuses on three strategic themes: meeting the needs of Parties to address global environmental change, developing science for the sustainability of the Americas, and ensuring the sustainability of the IAI. These themes are implemented through 10 strategic goals, including the promotion of transdisciplinary research on biodiversity, climate change adaptation, and water-food-energy nexuses, as well as strengthening science-policy interfaces and regional funding networks.

The report emphasizes the critical role of estuaries and mangroves in Central and South America for biodiversity, carbon capture, and coastal protection. It argues that these 'blue carbon' ecosystems are threatened by climate change, pollution, and urbanization, and calls for a comprehensive framework involving scientific diplomacy, transboundary cooperation, and community engagement. The document provides specific policy recommendations across four dimensions: ecology, ecosystem services, spatial governance, and community action, while highlighting the Coiba Archipelago in Panama and the Gulf of Nicoya in Costa Rica as case studies for sustainable management.

This white paper argues for the critical importance of estuaries and mangroves in Central and South America for biodiversity, climate regulation, and coastal protection. It identifies threats such as climate change, pollution, and urbanization, and proposes a comprehensive framework for sustainable management. The report emphasizes the role of 'blue carbon' in climate mitigation and advocates for science diplomacy, interdisciplinary collaboration, and community engagement. It provides specific case studies from the Coiba Archipelago in Panama and the Gulf of Nicoya in Costa Rica to illustrate successful management and the need for continued restoration.

The document argues that estuaries and mangroves in Central and South America are critical for biodiversity, climate regulation, and coastal protection, but face threats from climate change, pollution, and urbanization. It proposes a comprehensive framework for sustainable management, emphasizing the need for scientific diplomacy, inclusive governance, and community participation. The report highlights the role of 'blue carbon' in national climate strategies and provides case studies from the Gulf of Nicoya in Costa Rica and the Coiba Archipelago in Panama to illustrate successful sustainable management and the potential for pristine sites to serve as regional health benchmarks.

The white paper outlines a science diplomacy strategy for the Amazon, integrating scientific research and indigenous knowledge to address ecological degradation. It proposes four main pillars: promoting transdisciplinary cooperation, strengthening the OTCA Regional Amazon Observatory (ORA), establishing a Science-Policy Hub for evidence-based governance, and building capacity across scientists, public officials, and indigenous communities. The strategy emphasizes the need for standardized data reporting, multilateral funding, and the genuine inclusion of indigenous peoples in decision-making bodies.

The document outlines a science diplomacy framework to safeguard the Amazon, focusing on transdisciplinary cooperation, joint monitoring, a science-policy hub, and capacity building. It emphasizes the need to combine scientific evidence with ancestral indigenous knowledge to address deforestation and climate change across the eight Amazonian nations.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) has released the draft report of the 56th meeting of the Executive Council (EC-56) for review. Representatives are requested to provide comments, preferably 90 days before the 32nd meeting of the Conference of the Parties scheduled for May 22-23, 2024.

The document is a formal agreement signed on December 7, 2023, between FAPESC and IAI. It outlines a framework for joint activities in transdisciplinary research, capacity building, and the science-policy interface regarding global environmental changes and their impacts on human well-being. The collaboration emphasizes the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) and includes potential cooperation through the Belmont Forum. The agreement lasts four years and specifies that no financial resources will be transferred between the parties, with each signatory covering its own expenses.

The agreement outlines a five-year collaboration between the IAI and PAHO to enhance institutional capacities for understanding the relationships between climate, environment, and health. The parties commit to joint scientific projects, a regional fellowship program, the dissemination of communication materials, and the strengthening of integrated surveillance and monitoring of climate, environment, and health conditions.

The document is a list of participants for the 56th Meeting of the Executive Council to the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, held via videoconference on 14 November 2023.

The document outlines a five-year agreement between the IAI and CICAG to strengthen scientific cooperation in the Americas. The partnership focuses on exchanging knowledge regarding climate change, biodiversity, and the role of indigenous and local communities in sustainable development. It specifies areas of cooperation including science diplomacy, open science, and South-South cooperation, while clarifying that the agreement does not create a legal partnership or joint venture.

The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) and Panama's SENACYT organized a training program in science diplomacy for decision-makers in the Americas. The program includes a field trip to Coiba National Park and a three-day workshop focusing on the intersection of science, policy, and international relations to address global environmental change (GEC), including climate change and biodiversity loss. It aims to strengthen regional cooperation and evidence-based policymaking through modules on national strategies, intergovernmental processes (such as the UNFCCC and CBD), and scientific advising.

This report details the activities of the Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) Directorate from 1 July 2023 to 13 October 2023. It focuses on the implementation of decisions from the 31st meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP-31), specifically regarding research programs on climate-health and ocean systems, science diplomacy, and the expansion of institutional associations.

The IAI Executive Directorate has advanced several strategic mandates from CoP-31, including the launch of a climate, environment, and health research program, the establishment of an Oceans, Islands, and Coastal Regions Committee, and the expansion of scientific diplomacy initiatives. Key achievements include the distribution of initial grants to 12 research teams across 15 countries, the development of partnerships with the University of the West Indies and the Global Change Research Center in Paraguay, and the implementation of the Science, Technology, and Policy (STeP) Fellowship with 45 fellows. The Directorate is also coordinating regional efforts on the Amazon and tropical forests, as well as enhancing gender and indigenous inclusion through new advisory committees and targeted funding for underrepresented researchers.

The 31st meeting of the IAI Conference of the Parties (CoP-31), held in Panama City in June 2023, resulted in the adoption of 23 decisions. Key outcomes include the creation of the IAI Science Diplomacy Center, the establishment of an Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities Advisory Committee, and the mandate to develop research programs on the nexus of climate, environment, and health, as well as oceans and coastal systems. The meeting also addressed financial sustainability, noting that voluntary contributions have not increased in over 30 years, and approved the core budget for FY 2023-2024.