Al Mayadeen English

  • Ar
  • Es
  • x
Al Mayadeen English

Slogan

  • News
    • Politics
    • Economy
    • Sports
    • Arts&Culture
    • Health
    • Miscellaneous
    • Technology
    • Environment
  • Articles
    • Opinion
    • Analysis
    • Blog
    • Features
  • Videos
    • NewsFeed
    • Video Features
    • Explainers
    • TV
    • Digital Series
  • Infographs
  • In Pictures
  • • LIVE
News
  • Politics
  • Economy
  • Sports
  • Arts&Culture
  • Health
  • Miscellaneous
  • Technology
  • Environment
Articles
  • Opinion
  • Analysis
  • Blog
  • Features
Videos
  • NewsFeed
  • Video Features
  • Explainers
  • TV
  • Digital Series
Infographs
In Pictures
  • Africa
  • Asia
  • Asia-Pacific
  • Europe
  • Latin America
  • MENA
  • Palestine
  • US & Canada
BREAKING
Israeli media: Security incident in Gaza Strip classified as serious results in six wounded soldiers so far, two critically injured.
Al Mayadeen's correspondent in South Lebanon: Israeli drone strike targets vehicle in Deir Ames, Tyre governorate.
Lebanese Ministry of Health: Final toll from airstrike on car in Zebdine, Nabatieh District: Two martyrs, four injured
Egyptian media: Indirect talks between Hamas and Israelis begin in Sharm el-Sheikh.
AFP: France's new PM Sebastein Lecornu resigns just hours after unveiling cabinet.
Trump: Technical teams will meet again on Monday in Egypt to discuss and clarify the final details, and the first phase is scheduled to be completed this week
US President Donald Trump: Talks with Hamas have been very successful and are moving at a rapid pace
Local sources in Aleppo: Violent clashes erupt between the SDF and factions affiliated with the transitional authority on the Deir Hafer and Tishrin Dam fronts in the eastern Aleppo countryside
Israeli media: Interceptor missiles fired in an attempt to shoot down the drone
IOF Spokesperson: Sirens sounded amid suspected "enemy aircraft" infiltrating the Eilat area

Amazon rainforest fund revived again in light of Lula's win in Brazil

  • By Al Mayadeen English
  • Source: News websites
  • 4 Nov 2022 15:45
4 Min Read

Following the leftist president's past victory, deforestation witnessed a cut by more than 70%.

  • x
  • Deforestation in the Amazon (Reuters)
    Deforestation in the Amazon (Reuters)

A win for the environment has been celebrated after Brazil's supreme court ruled on Thursday to reactivate the Amazon Fund against deforestation, which was put on hold in 2019 when far-right president Jair Bolsonaro shut down two of its key committees, citing "irregularities". 

Authorities were demanded to reactivate it within 60 days, allowing the country's state development bank to start using the more than 3 billion reais, or $593 million. The court ruling called Bolsonaro's decision unconstitutional. 

Tasso Azevedo, an architect at the Amazon Fund and technical coordinator for the Climate Observatory, a Brazilian NGO, said: “The Amazon Fund is the biggest fund for the protection of forests ever created,”

He added: “The losses through its paralysis over these (almost) four years are irreplaceable but its reactivation is more than urgent and enables us to start protecting the forest, promote sustainable development, and fight deforestation again.”

New president-elect, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, who set up the fund in 2008 and who beat opponent Bolsonaro in the election on October 30, vowed to bring back policies meant to protect the environment that were halted by Bolsonaro.

"The challenge is immense," he said of the job ahead of him, citing a hunger crisis, the economy, bitter political division, and deforestation in the Amazon.

Related News

Michelle Bolsonaro positions herself as leader of Brazil's far-right

US targets family of Brazil’s top judge with sanctions in rare move

Germany reinstates donations after Lula win 

During Lula's first eight years as president, deforestation witnessed a cut by more than 70%, and in light of his latest victory last week, he announced the goal of zero deforestation to go into effect after his scheduled inauguration on January 1.

This comes after deforestation has been annually increasing since Bolsonaro was in power and after it hit a 15-year high this year due to illegal logging and land grabs. Bolsonaro, with his far-right and business-focused policies, called on people to take advantage of Brazil's natural resources.

After Bolsonaro neutralized the fund, Norway - which had donated a whopping 94% - and Germany withdrew their support, but after the recent court ruling, which Germany’s ambassador to Brazil, Heiko Thoms recognized, the European nation confirmed its intent to donate again. 

Brazil’s Federal Controller General released a report in June showing that Bolsonaro’s decision cost the Amazon fund billions in lost opportunities.

Referring to previous governments, Germany's ambassador said: "Brazil achieved impressive results in reducing deforestation in Amazonia and it can do the same again in the future.” However, environment minister Carlos Minc expressed: “It’s not sufficient, because we need to reduce deforestation," adding: "but this government is ending and I hope the next one retakes the original principles.”

What's more shocking, is that rights group Global Witness published a report in September exposing that some of the world’s biggest central banks - among them The Bank of England, the US Federal Reserve, and the European Central Bank - are destroying the Brazilian Amazon by financing agri-business giants. 

Before Jair Bolsonaro’s term began in January 2019, the Brazilian Amazon hadn’t recorded a single year with more than 10,000 square kilometers of deforestation in over a decade. Between 2009 and 2018, the average was 6,500 square kilometers. Since then, the annual average leaped to 11,405 square kilometers, and the three-year total is an area bigger than the state of Maryland.

  • Jair Bolsonaro
  • Lula da Silva
  • Brazil
  • Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva
  • Amazon Rainforest
STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

STOP THE HEAT: A Climate Change Coverage

Most Read

Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

Iraq at a crossroads: A new war front?

  • West Asia
  • 30 Sep 2025
A Hamas fighter in combat fatigues stands before the ceremony for the handover of Israeli captives to the Red Cross in Nuseirat, central Gaza Strip, Saturday, February 22, 2025 (AP)

Hamas responds to Trump plan, backs Gaza withdrawal, exchange

  • Politics
  • 3 Oct 2025
Tucker Carlson speaks at a memorial for Charlie Kirk, Sunday, September 21, 2025, at State Farm Stadium in Glendale, Arizona (AP)

Tucker Carlson: Israeli officers gave orders on Iran inside Pentagon

  • Politics
  • 2 Oct 2025
ap

'Israel' pays influencers $7K per post to whitewash Gaza genocide

  • Politics
  • 1 Oct 2025

Coverage

All
War on Gaza

Read Next

All
Hezbollah's representative in Iran, Sayyed Abdullah Safieddine, during an interview with Al Mayadeen which aired on October 6, 2025 (Al Mayadeen)
Politics

Tehran never interferes in Hezbollah decisions: Representative in Iran

Smoke billows over the Gaza Strip following an Israeli bombardment, as seen from southern Palestine, Sunday, Oct. 5, 2025. (AP)
Politics

Indirect talks for a ceasefire in Gaza begin in Sharm El-Sheikh

Fighters from the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) prepare to attend a military parad in Qamishli, northeastern Syria, Tuesday, August 12, 2025 (AP)
Politics

Security forces seal Aleppo’s Sheikh Maqsoud, Ashrafieh districts

Amsterdam Captain Mohammed Ali Mohiuddin, who took part in the Global Sumud mission to Gaza, talks to Al Mayadeen on October 6, 2025 (Screengrab)
Politics

GSF captain says despite abuse, 'Israel weaker than spider's web'

Al Mayadeen English

Al Mayadeen is an Arab Independent Media Satellite Channel.

All Rights Reserved

  • x
  • Privacy Policy
  • About Us
  • Contact Us
  • Authors
Android
iOS