Silvania, which along with Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy recently unveiled the Race to Belém initiative, has announced a forest restoration project in the Brazilian state of Tocantins.
On 25 January, Wanderlei Barbosa, the governor of Tocantins, signed the Negotiation Protocol for Forest Restoration, an initiative aimed at restoring degraded areas in the state.
The first phase of the project, which gets underway this month, will over up to 12,000 hectares, and encompass an initial investment of R$ 120 million.
Along with Silvania, a $500 million nature investment vehicle backed by Mercuria Energy Trading, the initiative is a partnership with Tocantins Parcerias (Topar) Geonoma.
The project aims to carry out environmental restoration activities through investments made by Silvania, using, managing, and implementing actions directly or indirectly at a regional level.
‘The best model’
“We want this initiative to be replicated within and outside the state of Tocantins,” Barbosa commented. “We believe we have established the best model for the restoration of degraded areas with the participation of private capital and full respect for local communities.
“Tocantins is an example in policies to combat the climate emergency, which bring economic and social development. The state also stands out in strengthening its environmental agencies such as Naturatins, which is essential for this process”.
The project will also draw on the knowledge of local communities in restoration activities, in turn generating employment through environmental training, ecotourism promotion, and sustainable land management.
‘Commitment to sustainability’
“With this project, we are reaffirming Tocantins’ commitment to sustainability and to the people who live in and care for our territory. It combines environmental protection, job creation, and economic development, aligned with the conservation of our ecosystems,” added Secretary of State for the Environment and Water Resources, Marcello Lelis.
Key objectives will include improving climate regulation through carbon sequestration, maintaining standing forests, and protecting water sources, as well as implementing a number of restoration techniques, including total planting, enrichment, nucleation, direct seeding, and assisted natural regeneration.
Race to Belém
The Race to Belém initiative seeks to gather private-sector investment to protect the Brazilian rainforest, with its title coming from the city set to host the COP30 climate change conference later this year.
With an initial commitment of $100 million, the initiative is seeking to raise $1.5 billion this year, according to reports. Read more here.
