The Fund that Connects Land, Life and Economy
Announcing Fundo Flora’s First Cohort
Fundo Flora has announced the first cohort of projects in Pará State, marking a new step toward accelerating restoration in the Brazilian Amazon.
After a rigorous vetting process, Fundo Flora has become more than a promise — capital is now reaching the ground. Over the next 6 years, Fundo Flora is investing $3.35 million USD in grants and low-interest loans. Ten projects will mobilize 26 local cooperatives, associations, and enterprises in Pará.
These pioneers are driving real impact: They will restore more than 1,500 hectares, regenerate more than 1 million trees, create more than 210 jobs, and benefit more than 4,000 people.
Fundo Flora finances, trains, and monitors local organizations that restore the Brazilian Amazon.
The Amazon is the world’s most biodiverse forest, largest freshwater reservoir, and most critical ecosystem for fighting climate change. But it is under threat: Between 1985 and 2023, more than 55 million hectares of forest were lost. Conservation alone is not enough to protect it. We need to end deforestation and restore 5% of the biome to avoid a point of no return.
Indigenous Peoples & Local Communities (IPLCs) are best equipped to tackle this challenge. Organized into community associations, cooperatives, landowners’ groups, and enterprises, they understand the local ecosystem – and research shows that they are 6-20x more likely to achieve long-term success than their larger peers.
Yet, available climate finance still struggles to reach IPLCs. Led by WRI Brasil, Fundo Flora builds on a proven system that has connected $60 million to 200+ projects around the world. In collaboration with Sitawi Finance for Good, it connects local communities, cooperatives and enterprises with flexible grants and loans ranging from $30,000 USD to $500,000 USD.
Fundo Flora is pushing the boundaries of technological innovation to monitor and verify the impact of its investments. Through the tried and tested TerraMatch monitoring framework, projects are tracked over 6 years by combining data from the field with satellite algorithms.
Investing in the Arc of Restoration
Fundo Flora is concentrating its investments in the state of Pará, one of the most strategic regions for the future of the Amazon.
The state has committed to restoring 5.6 million hectares of native vegetation by 2030. To make this goal a reality, it is essential to expand access to financing for those who are already carrying out restoration work on the ground.
For this reason, Fundo Flora focus on organizations led by Indigenous peoples, traditional communities, family farmers, women, and youth, connecting these local actors with flexible financing, technical training, and a network of partners.
By investing in organizations deeply rooted in the territory, the fund supports initiatives capable of restoring degraded landscapes while generating income, strengthening the bioeconomy, and promoting sustainable territorial development.
Meet the selected champions
The projects supported by Fundo Flora represent the diversity of solutions needed to restore the Amazon.
These initiatives include assisted natural regeneration, the implementation of agroforestry systems, the strengthening of native plant nurseries and seed networks, as well as the development of bioeconomy supply chains. Together, these organizations demonstrate that restoring forests and generating economic development can go hand in hand, connecting environmental conservation, sustainable production, and income generation for local communities.
Join us to build a new restoration economy for the Amazon
Fundo Flora is opening a second call for proposals, focused on profitable bioeconomy businesses and high-quality ecological restoration projects. Our goal is to connect Para’s restoration champions with returnable capital.
The call prioritizes local organizations with strong community ties, including initiatives led by Indigenous peoples, Afro-descendant communities, family farmers, women, and youth.
Interested organizations can submit an expression of interest, briefly presenting their experience and ideas for scaling their initiatives.
Fundo Flora is also seeking partners who can help catalyze public and private investments for restoration in the Amazon. If you are interested in establishing partnerships or supporting the fund's financing, please contact: fundoflora@wri.org.
Fundo Flora Partners
Led by WRI Brasil, Fundo Flora is managed financially by Sitawi, with support from the Bezos Earth Fund, the AKO Foundation, and the Coca-Cola Foundation.
