Indigenous brazilians seek direct climate funding ahead of cop30 despite being most trusted forest guardians

A striking paradox has emerged in Brazil’s environmental landscape: while 80% of Brazilians trust Indigenous peoples more than any other institution to protect their forests, these communities receive less than 1% of global environmental funding, according to recent studies by Greenpeace and the Rainforest Foundation Norway.

This funding gap highlights a critical disconnect as Brazil prepares to host COP30, the next major UN climate summit. Indigenous groups and traditional communities like quilombolas—descendants of formerly enslaved people—are widely recognized as the most effective forest protectors, yet they remain largely excluded from the financial resources needed to continue their conservation work.

The problem stems from a flawed funding system that relies heavily on intermediaries such as international NGOs and government programs. The Rainforest Foundation Norway found that these middlemen often consume significant portions of environmental funds through high operational costs, leaving traditional communities with inadequate resources. Additionally, conventional funding structures impose rigid deadlines and bureaucratic requirements that don’t align with how Indigenous communities operate and make decisions.

As COP30 approaches, Indigenous leaders are advocating for direct access to climate financing—a change that could revolutionize environmental protection in Brazil. By cutting out costly intermediaries and adapting funding mechanisms to respect traditional governance structures, these communities could receive the resources they need to continue their proven track record of forest conservation. This shift would not only address the current funding inequity but could also significantly boost Brazil’s climate protection efforts on the global stage.