Enviro News Asia, Jakarta — The Government of Brazil and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) co-hosted the Regional Workshop on the Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) in Jakarta, Indonesia, on 20 October 2025. The forum gathered ASEAN Member States and key stakeholders to advance dialogue on large-scale financial mechanisms for tropical forest conservation.
The workshop marked a major step toward enhancing multilateral collaboration ahead of the official launch of the TFFF at the Leaders’ Summit of COP30 in Belém, Brazil, on November 6. Representatives from governments, diplomatic missions, academia, civil society, research institutions, and international organizations across Southeast Asia attended the event to explore opportunities for ASEAN countries to benefit from global tropical forest financing.
Brazil’s Ambassador to ASEAN, H.E. Henrique Ferraro, emphasized in his remarks that the TFFF aligns with ASEAN’s goals for inclusive and sustainable growth. He highlighted President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva’s announcement of a USD 1 billion Brazilian contribution to the Facility as a demonstration of Brazil’s commitment as both a beneficiary and an investing country.
Jointly led by Brazil and an Interim Steering Committee consisting of tropical nations—Colombia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Ghana, Indonesia, and Malaysia—alongside five sponsor countries—France, Germany, Norway, the United Arab Emirates, and the United Kingdom—the TFFF aims to provide long-term financial incentives for countries that conserve and restore tropical forests. The Facility’s framework ensures that resources reach Indigenous Peoples, Local Communities (IPLCs), and others directly engaged in forest protection.
UNDP Indonesia Resident Representative, Sara Ferrer Olivella, stated that the TFFF exemplifies how countries of the Global South are crafting solutions rooted in shared experiences. She reaffirmed UNDP’s readiness to help countries strengthen governance and institutional systems to ensure that forest finance supports both people and the planet.
Ida Bagus Made Bimantara, Director for ASEAN External Cooperation at Indonesia’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, underlined Indonesia’s commitment to tropical forest conservation in partnership with Brazil and other regions. He noted that supporting financial innovations like the TFFF is vital to preserve forests’ ecological and climate-regulating functions.
André Aquino, Advisor on Economics to Brazil’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change, described the TFFF as a bold mechanism designed to deliver continuous funding for tropical forest conservation. He explained that the Facility combines public and private resources through blended finance, ensuring long-term sustainability for conservation efforts.
The event reaffirmed Southeast Asia’s strategic role in global forest governance and strengthened collaboration among tropical nations. Both Brazil and UNDP underscored their continued partnership with ASEAN countries to amplify the Global South’s leadership in climate and forest diplomacy leading up to COP30. (*)
