Silvania, in partnership with Conservation International and The Nature Conservancy, has announced the launch of the ‘Race to Belém’ – an initiative to drive private-sector investment to protect the Brazilian rainforest.
Named after the Amazon city that will host the COP30 climate change conference later this year, the new initiative has been developed to create scalable, lasting solutions for one of the planet’s most critical ecosystems.
Boasting an initial commitment of up to $100 million in upfront capital, Silvania is collaborating with leaders in different Brazilian states to initiate forest protection programmes, matching every tonne of carbon credits purchased with an equal dollar of investment.
‘Lungs of our planet’
As it noted in a post on LinkedIn, its mission is threefold: to protect the Amazon, the ‘lungs of our planet’, to empower local communities who depend on and safeguard the forest, and to mobilise billions in private finance to advance environmental conservation efforts before COP30 this November.
According to Reuters, the group is seeking to raise an initial $1.5 billion this year.
It noted that jurisdictional REDD+ (JREDD) programmes are central to its efforts, fostering inclusive, large-scale conservation strategies that actively involve indigenous peoples and local communities.
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‘High-integrity conservation’
“Without high integrity conservation programmes which provide generous support to the peoples and communities who inhabit the Amazon, the Amazon will disappear,” commented Peter Seligmann, chairman, Silvania, and founder and chair, Conservation International. “We are committed to working with the jurisdictions that act with integrity and transparent monitoring of the effectiveness of both their conservation initiatives and their support of local communities and indigenous peoples.”
Elsewhere, Conservation International chief executive M. Sanjayan added that this is set to be a “seismic year for the future of the Amazon. We have a chance to look back on the trajectory of Amazonian protection in two distinct eras: pre- and post-COP30.” Learn more here.
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