The paper first examines the current state of silvicultural practice in the Amazon region, considering diverse management scenarios (e.g. production forests, second-growth forests, degraded forests and degraded forest lands) and highlighting a number of important constraints as well as likely impacts (social, economic and ecological). The available experience in several countries of the region is then synthesized and illustrated with selected cases under varied management approaches and scenarios, thus allowing to derive a number of lessons. Aiming to contribute to improve silvicultural practice, the identified major constraints are addressed, followed by an outline of some guiding principles for silviculture. In addition, the opportunities for intensification of silvicultural practice and a framework to cope with climate change are discussed. The paper also identifies major challenges and needs (e.g. information, training, research, communication) for silviculture in the Amazon, and finally offers some recommendations for policy and practice.