The Facts
The US and Switzerland have donated $8.4M to Brazil's Amazon Fund to preserve the world's largest tropical rainforest, the Brazilian National Development Bank (BNDES) said on Tuesday. The bank said Switzerland contributed $5.4M and the US $3M.
The Amazon Fund supports the prevention, monitoring, and combat of deforestation and fosters sustainable development in the rainforest region. Since its creation in 2008, it has funded 102 projects, investing $340M, BNDES said.
The Spin
Narrative A
Amazon countries need the world's help to curb deforestation. Besides financial incentives like funds and debt relief, they must also be assisted in fields such as law enforcement and resource conservation. At a time when the world is facing rapid destruction, it would be foolhardy to leave these nations to fend for themselves.
Narrative B
Over the years, many countries and companies have publicly committed to protecting the world's tropical lungs. Evidently, pledges alone are ineffective as there is no accountability — the risks to livelihoods, profitability, and demographics sap them of all political will. As long as it remains more profitable to cut down trees than to protect them, words are meaningless.
