Suffolk Reporter

In December, Liliana M. Dávalos, a professor at Stony Brook University, addressed policymakers and the public in Washington, D.C., highlighting the critical threats facing the Amazon. As one of four U.S. representatives in the inaugural Fulbright Amazonia cohort, she presented her research to confront these challenges.

Fulbright Amazonia was launched in 2022, bringing together 16 scholars and two co-leads from the United States and eight Amazonian nations. The group focused on climate change, sustainable development, and human and environmental health over an 18-month period.

Dávalos participated in the Climate Change Adaptation and Mitigation group, compiling weather disaster data across the region for the first time. She collaborated with Ane Alencar, Juan Pablo Iñamagua, Rayane Pacheco, Sabina Ribeiro, and Galia Selaya to propose solutions for protecting Amazonians and their forests from escalating disaster risks.

The team recommended standardizing disaster reporting across Amazonian nations. Their work is detailed in the Fulbright Amazonia Policy Brief which highlights how fragmented data hinders effective responses to floods, wildfires, and other climate-related disasters. They aim to enhance cross-border early-warning systems and local adaptation policies.

For her individual project with Colombian host Dolors Armenteras, Dávalos studied links between transnational crime and environmental degradation. Her research found organized crime networks exploiting global demand for cocaine and gold are causing deforestation by trafficking these commodities. Dávalos stressed that reducing cocaine demand or drug decriminalization alone won't dismantle these systems; instead, transboundary policies are needed.

During Fulbright Amazonia Week in Washington, D.C., Dávalos participated in events hosted by various organizations including the U.S. State Department. These sessions allowed engagement with policymakers to inspire action for the Amazon's future. “As scientists," said Dávalos, "we often dream of our research reaching policymakers."

Prior to Washington events, Dávalos coordinated a symposium at Stony Brook Institute for Advanced Computational Science where she engaged with students on maintaining hope during crises and translating research into change.

“Going in," stated Dávalos," we didn’t know there would be thousands of disasters...our work shows the cost of inaction is staggering.”

— Beth Squire