Brazil Launches First Federal Forest Concession Driven by Carbon Credits
Brazil
Global report presented at COP15 Conference on Migratory Species indicates 97% of freshwater migratory fish are threatened with extinction, with populations declining by around 90% since the 1970s. The study highlights direct impacts on food security, the economy, and communities that depend on these resources, and identifies habitat degradation, pollution, and dams as the main causes. (MMA; CMS)
The federal government is holding an auction at B3 for the concession of the Bom Futuro National Forest, in the State of Roraima, focused on restoration and generation of carbon credits. The project covers 98,000 hectares and is expected to attract investments of US$ 16.61 million over 40 years, marking the first federal concession primarily based on environmental assets as a revenue source. (MMA; SFB)
Ibama fines more than US$ 1 million and embargoes 3,900 hectares in the Caatinga biome during Operation Mandacaru, aimed at combating illegal deforestation. The action takes place simultaneously across semi-arid states and includes 91 violation notices, as well as restrictions on the economic use of the areas to ensure environmental recovery. Another joint operation by Ibama, Funai, and the Brazilian Army dismantles illegal mining in the Raposa Serra do Sol Indigenous Land, in the State of Roraima, with the seizure of equipment, destruction of camps, and estimated losses of US$ 144 thousand for offenders. The action also warns about the use of cyanide in extraction, posing risks to Indigenous health and water resources. (Ibama; Funai; Brazilian Army)
The Refloresta-SP Program has completed the restoration of 17.5 hectares in the cities of Mogi das Cruzes and Santa Branca, State of São Paulo, achieving over 80% native vegetation cover and high natural regeneration. The initiative also recorded an average of more than 3,000 individuals per hectare and 38 native species, reinforcing the use of environmental compensation to restore degraded areas. (Semil-SP)
The federal government expands and creates conservation units in the Pantanal and the Cerrado in the State of Minas Gerais, adding more than 145,000 hectares under environmental protection. The measures include the expansion of the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park and the Taiamã Ecological Station, as well as the creation of a reserve in northern Minas Gerais, focusing on biodiversity and water resources conservation. (ICMBio)
The Solidarity-Based Native Fruit Production Chain project has restored 300 springs and implemented 170 hectares of agroforestry systems in the State of Rio Grande do Sul, with more than US$ 575 thousand in funding. The initiative has also distributed 3,900 seedlings and provides training for family farmers. (Sema-RS)
The National Integrated Fire Management Committee approves a national strategy to strengthen volunteer participation in the prevention and combat of wildfires. The measure is part of the National Integrated Fire Management Policy and provides for a national registry, action plans, and greater coordination between public and private institutions. Additional investments include US$ 70.7 million through the Amazon Fund and US$ 28.6 million for actions in the Cerrado and Pantanal, as well as US$ 4.95 million from the Floresta+ Amazônia program to reinforce firefighting efforts. (MMA)
Ibama authorizes the fishing of pirarucu (Arapaima gigas) outside the Amazon region as a population control measure, after classifying the species as an invasive exotic in other river basins. The regulation covers ten regions across the country and aims to reduce impacts on aquatic biodiversity, given the species’ predatory potential in ecosystems where it is not native. The measure is aligned with the National Biodiversity Policy. (Ibama)
A research performed by Embrapa and the University of Brasília uses artificial intelligence to identify abandoned agricultural land in the Cerrado biome, with 94.7% accuracy. The study mapped more than 13,000 hectares in the city of Buritizeiro, State of Minas Gerais, and highlights the potential of these areas for environmental restoration and carbon capture, helping to guide public policies and land-use planning. (Agência Brasil)
Rabobank and the AGRI3 fund expand the Renova Pasto program to include grain producers, offering long-term credit and technical assistance to restore degraded areas in the Cerrado and Amazon regions. The new phase includes financing of up to US$ 5 million per operation, aiming to increase productivity without expanding deforestation, and also incorporates environmental targets and independent monitoring. (Rabobank; AGRI3)
Brazil’s Ministry of Finance has established a technical committee with participation from the government and civil society to implement the regulated carbon market in the country. The system will adopt a “cap-and-trade” model, setting emission limits and enabling the trading of carbon credits, aiming to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and attract investment for the ecological transition. Initial regulation is expected to be completed by 2026, with full implementation planned by 2031. (Brazil’s Ministry of Finance)
Latin America
Ministry of Environment and Natural Resources of Mexico appoints Andrea González Hernández as Executive Director of the Agency for Safety, Energy and Environment, responsible for environmental regulation in the country’s energy sector. (Semarnat)
Ministry of the Environment of Peru has presented an investment portfolio of US$ 228.6 million for 75 environmental projects across more than 17 regions, focusing on natural infrastructure, waste management, and environmental oversight. The initiative aims to attract private sector participation and international cooperation, with the potential to benefit around 10 million people and restore more than 10,000 hectares. (Minam)
Ministry of the Environment of Peru and the regional government of Cajamarca have completed ecosystem and degraded land maps to guide territorial planning and sustainable development in the region. The tools identify more than 500,000 hectares of degraded land and are expected to support biodiversity conservation and attract investment in environmental restoration. (Ministry of Environment)
The Ministry of Environment of the Dominican Republic has launched the National Environmental Award 2026 to recognize initiatives in environmental protection, sustainable resource use, and innovation. The award expands its scope to include the productive sector, research, innovation, and public management, with four main categories. (MMARN)
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