Riccardo Liguori Ireland has announced a million-dollar donation to the Amazon Fund, bolstering international efforts to protect the rainforest. The donation, which will be disbursed over three years, marks the country's entry into the group of nations supporting the financial mechanism managed by the BNDES. With 123 active projects, the Amazon Fund is one of the main tools to combat deforestation and environmental degradation
On March 12, the Irish government announced a donation of €15 million (approximately $16.1 million USD) to be disbursed over the next three years. The announcement was made in São Paulo during a meeting between Brazil’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, and Ireland’s Minister for Transport, Seán Canney.
The Amazon Fund, managed by Brazil’s National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES), is the largest financial mechanism in the world dedicated to reducing emissions from deforestation and forest degradation (REDD+). Through non-repayable grants, the Fund supports initiatives for monitoring, preventing, and combating deforestation, as well as conservation and sustainable development projects in the forest.
A Strategic Contribution in a Pivotal Year
Ireland’s participation comes at a crucial time for Brazil’s climate policy. With COP30 scheduled to take place in Belém in November, Brazil is intensifying its efforts to relaunch the Amazon Fund. The Fund’s Steering Committee was re-established by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva on the first day of his current term. In 2024, over 1 billion BRL in donations, contracted in 2023 and 2024, were added to the fund, with the support of countries such as Norway, Germany, the United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Switzerland, and Japan.
“Ireland’s donation is an international recognition of Brazil’s effectiveness in combating deforestation and promoting sustainable development,” said Aloizio Mercadante, President of BNDES. “This significant contribution strengthens our ability to finance initiatives that protect the rainforest, empower local communities, and boost the bioeconomy.”
Concrete Results in the Fight Against Deforestation
Investments in the Amazon Fund are already yielding significant results. According to data from the Prodes system of the National Institute for Space Research (Inpe), the deforestation rate in the Amazon from August 2023 to July 2024 decreased by 30.63% compared to the previous period, marking the largest percentage reduction in the last 15 years. The overall decrease compared to 2022 exceeds 45%.
Minister Marina Silva emphasized that the Amazon Fund is a benchmark for financial mechanisms dedicated to combating environmental crime and investing in research and development. “We want to build a new cycle of prosperity, especially in the context of the growing climate emergency,” stated the Minister.
A Transparent and Monitored Fund
In its 16 years of operation, the Amazon Fund has raised over 4.5 billion BRL, financing 123 projects with a total investment of 3.1 billion BRL. More than 1.9 billion BRL has already been disbursed, with over 200 million BRL allocated for 2024 alone.
BNDES ensures transparency by regularly publishing annual reports on the Amazon Fund’s activities on its website, including detailed information on funded projects and independent audit reviews. All data is accessible to allow monitoring of investments and the impacts they generate.
Ireland’s entry as a donor to the Amazon Fund strengthens the global commitment to protecting the world’s largest rainforest. At a time when the climate crisis demands urgent and concrete actions, this donation represents a significant signal of international cooperation. With increasing global support, Brazil will be able to accelerate its environmental protection policies and intensify the fight against deforestation.
