Brazil inks deal for more conservation units in Amazon

Brazil's Ministry of Environment signed a partnership agreement with the World Bank, the Brazilian Fund for Biodiversity (FunBio), and Conservation International (CI) aimed at making over 3 million hectares in the Amazon Forest into conservation units in five years. Altogether, $60 million will be brought in from the Global Environment Fund (GEF).

Dubbed Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Project, the agreement, signed Tuesday (Dec. 19), also includes improvements in the administration of conservation units, the expansion of the area under restoration, and the sustainable management of the Brazilian Amazon.

According to the ministry, which is to spearhead the efforts under the deal, the initiative will also provide support for the Protected Areas of the Amazon Program (ARPA), a project that was created 15 years ago and has turned over 60 million hectares into conservation units in the region.

“I've been saying that we cannot forever stay in control and command as a way to keep the Amazon Forest providing its environmental services. We must give the environment its due value. These funds come as the means to make this idea materialize. We have to act, do everything we can, to give sustainability its due strength,” said Environment Minister Sarney Filho at the signing ceremony.

Cooperation

The project also stipulates join efforts by Brazil, Colombia, and Peru in the protection of the areas. Brazil is also expected to convey its expertise to the neighbor countries.

“It's the first project in the Amazon region with really close ties with Colombia, Peru—countries interested in benefiting from Brazil's experience so they can repeat them,” said Martin Raiser, director at the World Bank for Brazil.

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira