Brazil has committed to stopping illegal deforestation by 2030. Funding to protect forests and biodiversity is therefore an integral part of Brazilian policy. In spite of this, it is difficult for organisations and local governments to implement effective forest protection and climate action projects because of inadequate financing and capacities.
At present, Brazil receives the majority of its funding for forest protection on the basis of the REDD+ approach developed by the United Nations. Under this system, it receives payments if greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation are reduced. To ensure that forests and biodiversity continue to be conserved in the future, Brazil must look further afield for sources of financing and also increase access to the funds and their distribution around the country.
Those responsible for forest protection have a greater ability to improve access to financing and increase the volume of funding.
The project develops the skills of forest protection organisations and those responsible for managing funds.
It advises federal states, local authorities and umbrella organisations for Indigenous Peoples and local communities on how to obtain and use funding to conserve forests.
With the aim of improving processes and national, regional and local collaboration, the project is helping to update the national REDD+ strategy, adapt funding guidelines, and set up dialogue formats for applicants, implementing organisations and those managing the funds. Parallel to this, it is promoting the establishment of a cross-institutional coordination and training platform.
The project is working with the Brazilian Development Bank to optimise implementation of the REDD+ Amazon Fund, which provides a trailblazing model for a participatory, national fund for forest finance.