In a gesture of international support for environmental protection, the Government of Switzerland announced a donation of 33 million reais to the Amazon Fund.
The European country joined this key initiative for the conservation of the largest tropical rainforest on the planet within the framework of the COP30 taking place in Belém, Brazil.
The agreement, signed in Brasilia, reinforces the global commitment to the preservation of the Amazon biome, one of the world’s major climate regulators.
With this donation of about 5.8 million dollars from Switzerland to the Amazon Fund, the European country joins a network of cooperation to strengthen the commitments of the Paris Agreement.
The Brazilian Ministry of Environment also celebrated the news.
“Switzerland’s support confirms that the defense of the Amazon is a cause shared by the entire international community,” they highlighted.
Lula Da Silva opened COP30 this week in Belém, Brazil.
A new boost to the Amazon Fund
The Amazon Fund was created in 2008 with the aim of financing projects for prevention, monitoring, and combating deforestation.
Since then, it has received support mainly from Norway and Germany.
However, other countries —such as the United States and the United Kingdom— have also expressed their interest in collaborating with new contributions.
With the donation from Switzerland to the Amazon Fund, the Brazilian government hopes to strengthen sustainable development actions in local communities and expand the protection of the Amazon ecosystems.
The agreement was signed by the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), administrator of the fund, and representatives of the Swiss government.
Environmental cooperation between Brazil and Switzerland
During the ceremony, held in Brasilia, authorities from both countries participated, including the Swiss ambassador to Brazil, Pietro Lazzeri.
“The act formalizes Switzerland’s interest in actively cooperating with the preservation of the Amazon,” Lazzeri stated.
The diplomat highlighted that the contribution “reflects the Swiss government’s commitment to international climate policies and the planet’s biodiversity.”
For its part, according to BNDES, the European contribution “demonstrates the international community’s confidence in the transparency mechanisms and results of the Amazon Fund.”
The organization also recalled that the resources will be allocated to:
- sustainable development projects, and;
- restoration of degraded areas, especially in regions under high pressure from deforestation.
The global relevance of the Amazon Fund
Switzerland’s donation to the Amazon Fund comes in a context of growing global attention on the role of the Amazon in climate change mitigation.
According to the Brazilian Ministry of Environment, more than 60% of the Amazon territory is within Brazilian borders.
This makes the country a central player in global conservation.
The fund, in addition to financing environmental initiatives, involves indigenous communities, social organizations, and research centers.
Therefore, a relevant focus is to balance environmental protection with economic development.
Since its creation, the Amazon Fund has supported more than a hundred projects in the region with sustainable financing.