The ontological politics for sustainable transition in the Amazon (Beatriz Abreu dos Santos)

The RIFS research group Ecopolitics and Just Transformations hosted a presentation titled "Guardiões do Bem Viver: The Ontological Political Practice of a Youth Collective for the Sustainable Transition of the Brazilian Amazon." Delivered by Beatriz Abreu dos Santos, a socio-environmental researcher and PhD candidate at the University of Brasília and AgroParisTech, the talk explored the innovative role of youth activism in fostering socio-environmental governance. Drawing on her doctoral research and fieldwork in the Santarém region—an epicenter of territorial conflicts in the Brazilian Amazon—Beatriz highlighted how the Guardiões do Bem Viver collective is reshaping social movements and influencing local public policies.

Through a detailed discussion, Beatriz emphasized the collective's efforts to challenge extractivist paradigms and integrate traditional knowledge with principles of bem viver (well-living). Attendees engaged in lively dialogue about the broader implications of this grassroots initiative, particularly its potential to inspire sustainable governance models beyond the Amazon. The presentation highlighted the transformative power of youth-led movements in addressing ecological and social crises, reaffirming the value of local agency and interdisciplinary collaboration in driving systemic change.