BNDES Launches Forest Innovation Program, Approves R$350 Million for Large-Scale Restoration

Overview

• The bank approved R$250 million from the Fundo Clima for Suzano to restore 24,304 hectares across São Paulo, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Maranhão, Pará and Mato Grosso do Sul in the Cerrado, Mata Atlântica and Amazônia biomes, the largest Fundo Clima approval to date for native restoration.
• Sixty percent of Suzano’s restoration area will be on partner properties and the effort is expected to support environmental regularization of more than 1,000 rural properties with training for landowners and workers.
• A separate R$100 million Fundo Clima loan backs Grupo Belterra’s first large-scale agroforestry restoration over 2,750 hectares focused on cocoa with small and mid-size farmers in Bahia, Pará, Rondônia and Mato Grosso, targeting 350 jobs and 232,500 tCO2e removed per year.
• Belterra will add R$15 million in company funds and R$20 million via the Amazon Biodiversity Fund managed by Impact Earth with USAID and CIAT to expand the agroforestry rollout.
• Through the new BNDES Floresta Inovação program, the bank approved R$24.9 million in non-reimbursable Funtec resources for R&D in native-species silviculture coordinated by UFSCar and Embrapa, as president Aloizio Mercadante emphasized advances in certification, AI and genetic research to curb deforestation.