Brazil is spearheading a significant global conservation initiative, the Tropical Forests Forever Fund (TFFF), set to be launched at the upcoming COP30 climate summit in Belém, Brazil, in November 2025. This ambitious fund aims to mobilize substantial financial contributions from diverse economies to bolster global climate policies and protect vital tropical ecosystems.
Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva announced the initiative at the UN General Assembly, positioning the TFFF as a key component of Brazil's presidency of COP30. The fund is designed to provide large-scale, predictable, and performance-based payments to countries that actively preserve and expand their tropical forests. While Brazil's specific financial contribution remains undisclosed, it is described as substantial. China has signaled its intention to be among the initial contributors.
Payments to participating countries will be based on annual compensation for tropical forest conservation, adjusted according to rates of deforestation and forest degradation. The launch of the TFFF is planned for COP30 in Belém in November 2025, with other countries expected to show interest and potentially follow Brazil’s example.
Policymakers envision the TFFF as a $125 billion fund combining sovereign and private-sector contributions managed like an endowment. Countries will receive annual stipends based on how much of their tropical forests remain standing. To reach this ambitious target, Brazil expects governments and major philanthropies to contribute the first $25 billion, which could then attract another $100 billion from private investors.
Although the exact amount of Brazil's investment has not been disclosed, it is described as a "considerable" sum intended to set a benchmark for other countries. China has expressed its intention to be one of the first contributors. The TFFF has already received initial support from countries including the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Norway, Singapore, and the United Arab Emirates.
This fund is part of Brazil’s broader strategy to strengthen its leadership in climate policy and attract international attention to the need for urgent environmental action. The TFFF is expected to be a central topic at COP30, where other countries will look to Brazil as an example of effective climate finance mechanisms. The fund’s success depends on unprecedented cooperation among governments, financial institutions, and the private sector, creating a model that can be replicated in tropical countries worldwide.
This innovative approach to conservation finance aims to provide long-term stability and predictability for countries seeking to preserve their forests, which is critically important for achieving global climate goals.