The Amazon rainforest is one of the most diverse ecosystems on the planet. Germany had suspended its aid to protect the area under Brazil’s Bolsonaro government. Now the money is flowing again.
After four years, Germany has resumed its aid payments to a fund to protect the rainforest in the Amazon region.
The federal government released 20 million euros, as announced by the German embassy in Brasilia and the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES). In addition, the equivalent of around 520,000 euros was made available for the continuation of technical cooperation.
Germany had already pledged 35 million euros in January. The 20 million euros that will be paid out via the German development bank KfW are now the first part of this.
Ecosystem suffers from extreme drought
The Brazilian Amazon is suffering from the effects of an unusual drought. The Negro, the second largest tributary of the Amazon, reached its lowest water level on Monday since official measurements began 121 years ago. In the morning, the water level in the harbor of the megacity of Manaus fell to 13.5 meters. In June 2021, the highest level ever recorded at this point was 30.02 meters.
The drought is also likely the cause of the deaths of about 150 river dolphins in Lake Tefe near the Amazon. This means that an estimated ten percent of the dolphin population has died. Water temperatures of more than 39 degrees had previously been measured in the lake.
No aid payments from Germany under Bolsonaro
The so-called Amazon Fund was launched in 2008 by the Brazilian government and the BNDES to mobilize additional funds for the protection of the Amazon. However, he came under criticism because of disagreements about the use of the money under the government of ex-President Jair Bolsonaro – Germany suspended its payments as a result.
For the right-wing populist Bolsonaro, the Amazon region primarily meant untapped economic potential. During his term in office (2019 to 2022), deforestation and slash-and-burn practices increased sharply. The Amazon rainforest is considered a CO2 store and plays an important role in the international fight against climate change.
Painstaking protection of the Amazon regions
However, Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has ruled Brazil since the beginning of the year. In his previous terms as Brazilian president (beginning of 2003 to the end of 2010), he was not necessarily considered an avowed environmentalist. At the beginning of his current term in office, Lula announced that he would prioritize environmental and climate protection. For example, he provided one comprehensive action plan to protect the Amazon rainforest. In addition to new nature reserves, it also provides for higher penalties for illegal deforestation.
Lula wants illegal deforestation to be stopped completely by 2030. This was also a key demand during the Amazon Summit in August this year. However, the meeting’s final document lacked central commitments and commitments to safeguard the territories. South American countries’ efforts to protect the rainforest remain largely based on promises.
For this reason too, the Amazon Fund is an important tool for preserving the rainforest areas. Germany is the second largest donor after Norway and has already contributed around 55 million euros to the fund.