Bolsonaro Claims Brazil Does Not Need German Funds to Preserve the Amazon

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – President Jair Bolsonaro said this Sunday, August 11th, that Brazil does not need German money to preserve the Amazon.

In an interview with “Tagesspiegel” newspaper, German Environment Minister Svenja Schulze announced on Saturday, August 10th, the suspension of funding for projects to protect the forest and biodiversity in the Amazon due to increased deforestation in the region.

When asked about the investment cutback, Bolsonaro said that Germany was trying to “buy” the Amazon. “Invest? It will not buy the Amazon. It will stop buying the Amazon. It can make good use of that money. Brazil doesn’t need it,” he said.

In his opinion, other countries are attempting to “take over” Brazil. “Do you think that major countries are interested in the image of Brazil or are they in fact interested in taking over Brazil?”, he asked.

Germany’s decision to suspend project aid concerns only funding from the Ministry of the Environment. Germany is also supporting the Amazon Fund, into which the Ministry of Economic Cooperation has so far injected €55 million (around R$245 million). Norway is contributing to the fund, in addition to Germany.

A report published in this Sunday’s edition of the newspaper “O Estado de S. Paulo” reports that Northern Brazilian governors are seeking direct funding from international organizations to curb deforestation in the Amazon.

According to the report, representatives of Germany, Norway, and the Northern states have gathered to discuss the direct transfer of funds, without the involvement of the federal government.

According to the German newspaper “Tagesspiegel”, transfers to projects valued at €35 million were initially suspended. According to the German Environment Ministry, since 2008, €95 million have been provided through this initiative for forest protection projects in Brazil.

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