Over 1 billion euros committed to Amazon rainforest restoration

The announcement coincided with the three-day visit (from March 26 to 28) of French President Emmanuel Macron to Brazil. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva warmly received the French delegation in Belem, located at the heart of the Amazon rainforest.

In a joint statement, the two governments revealed plans to allocate 1.1 billion euros over a four-year period to safeguard and restore the Amazon rainforest. This project marks the most extensive collaboration to date between Brazilian state banks and French investment agencies. Additionally, Brazil and France encourage the involvement of private resources from third-party entities.

"Convening in Belem, the epicenter of the Amazon forest, Brazil and France have agreed to collaborate on an international framework to protect tropical forests," the joint statement affirmed.

Significantly, as the Belem region prepares to host the 30th United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP 30), this declaration paves the way for enhanced international cooperation and fresh opportunities.

Accordingly, France and Brazil have committed to collaborating to combat deforestation in the Amazon by 2030. As outlined in the joint statement, the two presidents have pledged to conserve, restore, and sustainably manage tropical forests globally and have agreed to undertake an extensive agenda, including developing innovative financial instruments, market mechanisms, and payments for environmental services.

During the meeting, President Macron and President Lula visited a sustainable chocolate production project on an island near Belem and engaged with local authorities.

In a significant gesture, the French president decorated Indigenous leader Raoni Metuktire with the prestigious Legion of Honor medal in recognition of his tireless efforts in protecting tropical forests and advocating for the rights of indigenous peoples. President Macron also received several crucial documents researched by indigenous communities over the years from Chief Raoni. Among these documents was a notable mention of the environmental and social repercussions of the proposed Ferrograo railway, highlighting its potential impact on the livelihoods of soybean farmers.

In the presence of the French President, Chief Raoni appealed to Brazilian President Lula not to authorize the construction of the 1,000km railway.