The World Bank Board of Directors has approved a new project aimed at protecting forests and promoting sustainable development in the Lower Xingu region of Pará, Brazil. The project, developed in partnership with Brazil’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, the Government of Pará, the Brazilian Forest Service, and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), targets improved land use across more than 11 million hectares. Over 6,000 people—including Indigenous Peoples and traditional communities—are expected to benefit.
The Lower Xingu region contains protected areas and Indigenous Lands that play a key role in biodiversity conservation, climate regulation, and supporting local livelihoods. However, these areas face increasing pressure from deforestation, illegal land occupation, and the impacts of climate change.
To address these challenges, the project will focus on several measures: training local managers; providing equipment and technical support; involving Indigenous Peoples, Quilombola communities, and other traditional populations in monitoring efforts; supporting community-based forest management; encouraging small-scale enterprises such as seed collection and agroforestry; promoting ecotourism; enhancing women’s participation; helping municipalities restore degraded lands; establishing fairer rules for managing natural resources; and creating spaces for environmental education.
This initiative is part of the Amazon Sustainable Landscapes Program (ASL), which is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF). The ASL program aims to conserve forests, restore degraded landscapes, and strengthen sustainable value chains throughout the Amazon. The total budget for this Xingu-focused effort amounts to US$8.56 million.
Carlos Eduardo Marinello, Acting National Secretary for Biodiversity, Forests and Animal Rights at Brazil’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change said: “The ASL Xingu project replicates the advances achieved under ASL 1 and 2, applying an integrated landscape management approach in a new region of the Amazon, where the lessons learned will strengthen national biodiversity and climate public policies in coordination with the state of Pará and municipalities.”
Jorge Coarasa Bustamante, Interim Country Director for Brazil at the World Bank stated: “This initiative reflects the World Bank’s commitment to community-driven solutions for sustainable development in the Amazon. By empowering local communities, we help protect the forest and improve lives.”
The project aligns with Brazil's broader environmental strategies by supporting commitments under international agreements like the Paris Agreement as well as contributing toward goals set out in the Global Biodiversity Framework. These efforts reinforce Brazil's position as a leader in Amazon protection.
More information about this initiative can be found on the World Bank’s website or through its LinkedIn page.