Brazil’s National Development Bank (BNDES) has approved a record-breaking $154.9 million (BRL 882 million) in funding for Amazon conservation and reforestation projects in 2024. This unprecedented allocation surpasses last year’s high of $96 million (BRL 553 million), signalling a major commitment to protecting and restoring the Amazon.
A Brazilian college student planting trees in the Amazon rainforest, contributing to reforestation efforts. AI generated picture.
The announcement was made at the 31st Meeting of the Amazon Fund Steering Committee in Brasilia, where BNDES socio-environmental director Tereza Campello highlighted the surge in project approvals. ‘These numbers reflect the strengthening of governance and the expansion of the Amazon Fund's impact, with a focus on environmental protection, bioeconomy and social inclusion in the Amazon region,’ Campello said.
Read more: Gold Standard pilots new certification for NbS projects
The Amazon Fund, established under the UN’s REDD+ mechanism to support deforestation prevention and sustainable use of the Amazon, was revitalised last year by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva after a four-year halt. The fund’s current projects emphasise forest restoration, carbon capture, and biodiversity preservation, including the significant Restaura Amazônia initiative, which received BRL 450 million to restore 6 million hectares in the Amazon’s ‘Restoration Arc’ by 2030.
Additional Amazon Fund-backed projects include Amazônia na Escola, which, with a BRL 332 million investment, aims to support 140,000 producers and educate 17 million students, and Sanear Amazônia, which provides sustainable water access to 4,600 families through social technologies.
These efforts extend to emergency support, with local fire departments involved in disaster response and initiatives to aid Afro-Brazilian and Indigenous communities. This record-breaking year for the Amazon Fund reflects Brazil’s reinforced commitment to protecting one of the world’s most critical ecosystems and uplifting its local communities.
Read more: Deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest: causes, effects, solutions
DGB’s nature-based projects—spanning reforestation, afforestation, and energy efficiency efforts—offer companies effective ways to offset carbon emissions while revitalizing ecosystems and supporting local communities. These initiatives meet strict environmental and social criteria, generating high-quality carbon credits that ensure each investment delivers concrete, measurable, and lasting positive outcomes.
