The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) and the UN Development Programme (UNDP) have announced new investments under the Floresta+ Amazon Project, supported by the Green Climate Fund. The initiative provides over R$ 1.5 million (approximately US$280,000) in direct payments for environmental services to around 200 farmer families across 15 municipalities in Amazonas. These payments reward farmers for conserving nearly 14,000 hectares of native forest and 8 million standing trees, while additional resources will strengthen municipal infrastructure for monitoring and controlling deforestation.
The announcement was made on 9 September in Manaus, with the participation of President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Minister of Environment Marina Silva, family farmers, and local partners. The Floresta+ Amazon Project has already engaged nearly 8,000 farmers across the Legal Amazon, including 2,500 in Amazonas, with close to R$ 17 million disbursed to date. In 2025 alone, more than R$ 2 million has been paid, and an additional R$ 10 million is expected by year-end. Farmers can still register through local outreach or via the project website.
Beyond direct payments, around R$ 60 million in additional resources will be allocated to 70 municipalities through the MMA’s Union with Municipalities Program, with 11 municipalities in Amazonas receiving support. The funds will establish local offices for deforestation monitoring and control, providing training, equipment, software, and vehicles such as cars, motorcycles, and boats to enhance local capacity.
Minister Marina Silva emphasized that the project demonstrates how conservation can generate prosperity and improve quality of life, while expanding access to technical assistance and promoting sustainable production practices. President Lula highlighted the importance of empowering municipalities and communities to protect the Amazon while creating economic opportunities for those who conserve it. Family farmers, such as Egydio Schwade from Presidente Figueiredo, expressed pride in participating in the project and its potential to inspire others to join.
UNDP Brazil highlighted that the Floresta+ Amazon Project supports a development model that respects socio-biodiversity, generates income, and strengthens local communities’ role in forest protection. The project contributes to greenhouse gas reduction, sustainable development, and inclusive growth while valuing those who actively conserve the Amazon.
The Floresta+ Amazon Project is an international cooperation initiative led by the Brazilian government, in partnership with UNDP and funded by the Green Climate Fund. It promotes the conservation of native vegetation through direct payments for environmental services to smallholders, family farmers, traditional communities, and landowners with preserved areas, fostering both environmental stewardship and socio-economic development.
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