Brazil Pledges $26 Million to Restore Indigenous Lands in the Amazon

Brazil is scaling up its Amazon reforestation efforts with a new $26 million public call dedicated to restoring native forests across Indigenous territories. The initiative, announced by the National Development Bank (BNDES) and the Ministry of Environment (MMA), marks the third round of funding under the country’s Amazon Restoration programme—and its most ambitious yet.

Amazon rainforest restoration led by local Indigenous communities. AI generated picture.

The programme focuses on three key regions of the Legal Amazon—spanning states like Amazonas, Pará, Acre, and Mato Grosso—with each region set to receive roughly $7.8 million in funding. The call invites proposals for up to 90 reforestation projects, each covering between 50 and 200 hectares. Budgets will range from $255,600 to $1.5 million per project, and all proposals must be led in partnership with Indigenous communities.

‘It is the largest indigenous land restoration project in the country's history,’ said BNDES in a statement. The programme prioritises both ecological restoration and economic resilience. ‘By strengthening productive restoration on indigenous lands, the federal government is working to ensure that vegetation recovery is associated with income generation and improved socioeconomic conditions for families,’ the bank added.

To qualify, projects must comply with national environmental and Indigenous land management policies, particularly those set by FUNAI, Brazil’s Indigenous affairs agency. A multi-agency committee—including BNDES, MMA, the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples (MPI), and FUNAI—will oversee the selection process.

Interested applicants have until 19 July to submit proposals. BNDES is also offering training sessions to support organisations preparing to apply.

This initiative is part of the broader ‘Arc of Restoration’ strategy, which aims to reforest six million hectares by 2030 and cut 1.65 billion tonnes of carbon dioxide equivalent emissions over the next 30 years.