In an exclusive interview with Euronews, Sonia Guajajara, Brazil's Minister of Indigenous Peoples, said she hoped the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF) — officially set to launch during the climate summit — would receive both political and financial support from Europe.
The proposed fund targets a total of $125 billion (€108 billion) in contributions, with $100 billion (€86 billion) expected from private investors and the remainder from governments and philanthropic organisations.
Supporting forest nations and Indigenous communities
The TFFF is designed to reward tropical forest countries with annual payments for maintaining or increasing forest cover, using satellite monitoring to verify conservation results.
"It is very important that the European Union demonstrates its commitment by contributing resources to this fund," Guajajara said. "This would encourage other nations to follow suit and ensure continued protection for tropical forests across the world."
She emphasised that the initiative aims to include at least 75 countries, extending to those with tropical and Atlantic forests, and highlighted a distinctive feature of the fund: 20 per cent of resources will go directly to Indigenous peoples and local communities.
"This is what makes the fund truly innovative," she explained. "Indigenous territories are proven to preserve biodiversity and forest ecosystems most effectively, playing a vital role in maintaining the planet's climate balance. It is impossible to find real solutions without including those who are already protecting the forests."
A flagship initiative for COP30
The fund, described by the Brazilian government as a groundbreaking mechanism, will be one of the key proposals at COP30 — the first-ever climate summit hosted in the Amazon Rainforest. Guajajara's ministry was closely involved in designing the fund, underscoring the importance of Indigenous-led climate action.
The initiative also promises returns for investors, as it will be managed through a diversified fixed-income portfolio expected to yield profits above the cost of capital.
Global cooperation and Brazil's leadership
The proposal was developed with input from several international bodies, including the World Bank, FAO, OECD, and UNDP.
Brazil has also formed an international committee to guide the fund, bringing together six forest nations — Brazil, Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Indonesia, and Malaysia — and five potential investor countries: France, Germany, Norway, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom.
At the UN General Assembly in New York last month, President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced that Brazil would lead by example with an initial commitment of $1 billion (€864 million) to the TFFF.
"Brazil will be the first country to invest in the fund, and we invite all partners to make equally ambitious contributions," Lula said. "Together, we can make the Tropical Forests Forever Fund operational by COP30 in November — in the heart of the Amazon."