Brazil has launched a $204 million initiative through its national development bank (BNDES) to restore 60,000 square kilometers of the Amazon rainforest by 2030. Announced at the COP28 climate summit, the Arc of Restoration program aims to capture 1.65 billion tons of carbon from the atmosphere. The Amazon, crucial for mitigating climate change due to its carbon absorption capacity, faces a critical juncture as deforestation pushes it towards a potential ecological tipping point. The BNDES program, part of a broader effort to reverse deforestation and climate impacts, represents a significant and urgent step towards preserving the Amazon's biodiversity and global climate stability.
Photo Credit: Sebastian Unrau