Translation. Region: Russian Federation –
Source: United Nations – United Nations –
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November 6, 2025 Climate and environment
Tropical forests, which play a vital role in protecting the planet from climate change, are disappearing at an alarming rate. To try to reverse this trend, Brazil launched a new initiative on Thursday in Belém, a city known as the gateway to the Amazon, ahead of the COP30 climate summit, which will take place there from November 10 to 21.
The initiative aims to place forest protection at the center of global climate action. The "Forever Tropical Forest Fund" will reward countries that reduce deforestation, making forest conservation more economically viable than logging. $4 billion will be allocated annually to 74 countries.
Tropical forests are the key to climate stability
"Tropical forests breathe life into our planet. Yet they continue to be mercilessly destroyed – and viewed as a source of short-term profit rather than a long-term resource," said the UN Secretary-General. Antonio Guterres at the ceremony that launched the initiative.
Under the fund, states will receive $4 per hectare of preserved forest per year. Payments will be adjusted based on actual results confirmed by satellite monitoring.
Eligible countries include 74 states, home to over a billion hectares of tropical and subtropical forests. Priority areas include the Amazon, the Atlantic Forest, the Congo Basin, the Mekong region, and the island of Borneo in Southeast Asia.
"The Tropical Forest Fund is a boldly designed mechanism designed to make preserved forests more valuable than cleared areas. It combines conservation with new opportunities," Guterres noted, adding that tropical forests are crucial for climate stability.
Climate meetings in Belém
On Monday, November 10, the official UN Climate Change Conference (COP30) begins in Belém, Brazil. And on November 6–7, Brazil is hosting its own climate summit, the goal of which is to remind the international community of the vital role of the Amazon rainforest and build momentum for the upcoming UN conference.
Speaking at the opening of the summit on Thursday, the UN chief said the climate crisis was worsening.
"Record-breaking wildfires, devastating floods, extreme storms… devastating lives, economies, and decades of progress. Last year, emissions reached another record high. And today, as we saw, the World Meteorological Organization confirmed that emissions are continuing to rise this year," Guterres said.
He called on countries to take decisive action to reduce harmful emissions and stressed that COP30 should mark the beginning of a "decade of implementation" of climate promises.
Supporting local communities
During the UN General Assembly High-Level Week in September, Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced the fund's first $1 billion investment.
COP30 Executive Director Ana Toni confirmed in an interview with UN News that 20 percent of the amount allocated to each country will go directly to local communities, supporting indigenous peoples who actively protect rainforests in their regions.
"This demonstrates the Brazilian government's commitment not only to preserving forests but also to rewarding those who protect them, with a particular focus on indigenous peoples," Toni said.
Formation of an international coalition
Work on the fund's creation began at RC-28 in Dubai in 2023. To date, five countries with tropical forests have joined the initiative: Colombia, Ghana, the Democratic Republic of the Congo, Indonesia, and Malaysia.
Potential investor countries include Germany, the UAE, France, Norway, and the United Kingdom. They will participate in a mixed investment mechanism, with dividends distributed between investors and forest-affluent countries.
Mobilizing billions to protect forests
Investing governments are expected to contribute approximately $25 billion in the coming years, catalyzing over $100 billion in private investment. Brazil estimates the fund could generate approximately $4 billion annually—almost triple the current volume of concessional financing for forest protection.
However, international funding in this area remains insufficient. According to the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP), annual investments need to increase from $84 billion in 2023 to $300 billion by 2030 and $498 billion by 2050.
Why is this important?
By linking financial incentives to forest conservation, the Forever Tropical Forest Fund will help change the approach to combating climate change and biodiversity loss.
This initiative also reflects a shift towards a more equitable, inclusive and predictable financial model that ensures resources reach those who protect forests with their work.
COP30 will run until November 21. It will bring together global leaders, civil society, and experts to accelerate climate action, with a focus on tropical forests, finance, and nature-based solutions.
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