A new global fund proposed by Brazil is set to channel 20 percent of its resources directly to Indigenous peoples, placing them at the forefront of the fight to save tropical rainforests. This provision is a cornerstone of the “Tropical Forests Forever Facility” announced by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva at the Belem climate summit.
The rule recognizes the vital, millennia-long role of Indigenous tribes as the most effective stewards and preservers of these lands. This year’s talks are expected to feature a significant presence from these communities, who are now being recognized as key partners in the climate solution.
The fund itself, which has already secured $5.5 billion in pledges, aims to pay 74 developing countries to halt deforestation. It’s a novel approach financed not by donations, but by interest-bearing debt from wealthy nations and commercial investors.
This financial model is designed to make preservation more lucrative than the destructive industries—like logging, mining, and ranching—that currently threaten the Amazon and other critical forests.
The summit, held in the Amazonian city of Belem, has already seen a $3 billion pledge from Norway, with more expected from Germany. This financial and social innovation comes as the UN chief issues dire warnings about “moral failure” if the 1.S-degree warming limit is surpassed.