Amazon Fund Grantees Fear Funding Freeze Amid Brazil's Presidential Election Uncertainty

The Amazon Fund, which has quadrupled its annual financing volume under Brazil's current administration, is facing concerns that a change in government could derail its progress.

Grantees of the fund warn that a radical shift in administration could have greater impacts amid the growing climate crisis, as international donors signal caution ahead of the presidential election on October 4.

The Amazon Fund was created in 2008 with initial donations from Norway and Germany to reward Brazil for its success in reducing deforestation. Over the last 18 years, it has benefited 288,000 people and supported 144 projects in forest restoration, sustainable production, firefighting, inspections, and monitoring of environmental crimes.

With President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva's administration, the Amazon Fund quadrupled its annual financing volume from $82 million to $233 million, according to a report by Brazil's environment ministry and the country's national development bank, BNDES.