Brazilian Environment Minister Marina Silva has said France and Spain are interested in contributing to an international fund aimed at fighting deforestation of Brazil’s Amazon rainforest.
The Brazilian-administered Amazon Fund was set up by Norway and supported by Germany, but the prospect of more European donors to become contributors to the fund is coming after the United States signaled its intent to join the fund last week after Predident Lula met with President Biden at the White House.
Silva told a news conference that U.S. climate envoy John Kerry is set to travel to Brazil on Feb. 27 to discuss the protection of the Amazon and donations to the fund.
Read also: Study Shows World’s Ocean Heat Grows to record high
“We will, now with the arrival of John Kerry, carry out the entire process of conversations to reach terms in relation to various agendas, including the issue of the allocation of resources to the Amazon Fund,” she said.
Last week, the U.S. government announced in a joint statement with Brazil its intention to fund programs to protect and conserve the Brazilian Amazon, including initial support for the Amazon Fund.
The initial donation is expected to be around $50 million, a diplomatic source told reporters last week.
Story adapted from Reuters
