The Amazon forest serves as the lungs of the earth, playing a crucial role in regulating the world’s climate. After decades of deforestation and pollution, leading scientists have warned that the region is approaching a tipping point. Yet at the same time, growing understanding of the impact of human activities, stemming from decades of scientific research, offers new possibilities to push forward with sustainable development in the Amazon; strong partnership between academia, government, civil society, and the private sector will prove critical to this effort. Towards this end, the Wilson Center’s Brazil Institute, the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP), and the National Institute for Amazon Research (INPA) hosted two workshops in 2018 with the support of the Alcoa Foundation: one in Manaus, Brazil and one in Washington, DC. Through bringing together a diverse group of stakeholders, the workshops aimed to contribute toward a more systemic understanding of the Amazon region, its role in the world, and its potential as a resource for sustainable growth.