More than USD 5.5 billion in initial commitments were announced Friday for the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF), a landmark global initiative to finance the permanent conservation of tropical forests. The launch took place at the COP30 Leaders’ Summit in Belém, hosted by Brazilian President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, alongside leaders from over 30 nations, the UN Secretary-General, and a representative from the World Bank.
The event marked the official adoption of the TFFF Launch Declaration, already endorsed by 53 countries, including 19 potential sovereign investors. Together, these endorsements represent over 90% of tropical forests in developing countries, from Indonesia and the Democratic Republic of Congo to China.
Billions Pledged for a New Global Model
The TFFF aims to create a permanent global financial mechanism that recognizes and compensates tropical forests for the vital ecosystem services they provide. The facility seeks to realign global finance toward preserving standing forests rather than profiting from their destruction.
Among the major pledges announced:
- Norway: USD 3 billion over ten years (subject to conditions)
- Brazil and Indonesia: reaffirmed commitments of USD 1 billion each
- France: potential commitment of up to €500 million by 2030 (conditional)
- Portugal: USD 1 million
- Netherlands: USD 5 million for the secretariat
- Germany: full endorsement; financial details to follow discussions between President Lula and Chancellor Merz
The World Bank was confirmed as trustee and interim host for the facility, which will soon establish a Tropical Forest Investment Fund (TFIF) to operationalize its programs.
‘A New Era in Global Climate Cooperation’
Opening the event, President Lula da Silva hailed the TFFF as “an unprecedented initiative” led by the Global South.
Environment Minister Marina Silva called the facility “a turning point in the history of tropical forest conservation,” noting that it “offers permanent incentives for preservation” and “places Brazil at the heart of building lasting climate solutions.”
Finance Minister Fernando Haddad highlighted the speed and scale of the initiative:
“Just two years after we conceived this idea, dozens of countries have come together to back the TFFF. It’s a historic innovation in global financial architecture.”
Foreign Minister Mauro Vieira emphasized that at least 20% of TFFF resources will go directly to Indigenous Peoples and local communities, with equal governance between forest and sponsor nations.
“The TFFF demonstrates that multilateralism can reinvent itself and deliver concrete results,” he said.
Indigenous Peoples Minister Sonia Guajajara praised the initiative’s inclusion:
“Ensuring that at least 20% of resources go directly to Indigenous guardians is a historic achievement and a decisive step toward equity and recognition of ancestral knowledge.”
Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre added that Norway’s participation reflects “the urgency of stopping deforestation to limit biodiversity loss and climate impacts.”
Toward a USD 125 Billion Global Fund
Belém marks the first step in the TFFF’s capitalization, with ongoing dialogue to attract both sovereign and private investors. The medium-term goal is to build a USD 125 billion fund — combining USD 25 billion in sovereign capitaland USD 100 billion from institutional investors.
The TFFF’s launch underscores the growing momentum for collective, equitable climate action and the recognition that tropical forest nations are central to the planet’s ecological future.