Amazon Private Sector Investment Landscape: Unlocking capital for a standing forest economy
The Brazilian Amazon is at a pivotal moment in its journey from deforestation-driven development toward a regenerative, standing-forest economy. For decades, unsustainable practices such as large-scale agriculture, cattle ranching, and logging have fueled economic growth at the expense of the forest, leading to widespread deforestation and biodiversity loss. However, growing local and global awareness of the Amazon’s critical role in climate regulation and biodiversity conservation has created a unique opportunity to shift the region’s economic model.
The Brazilian Amazon is at a pivotal moment in its journey from deforestation-driven development toward a regenerative, standing-forest economy. For decades, unsustainable practices such as large-scale agriculture, cattle ranching, and logging have fueled economic growth at the expense of the forest, leading to widespread deforestation and biodiversity loss. However, growing local and global awareness of the Amazon’s critical role in climate regulation and biodiversity conservation has created a unique opportunity to shift the region’s economic model.
Nature-based Solutions (NbS) and bioeconomy investments are increasingly seen as powerful tools for addressing deforestation by channeling capital into businesses that protect, restore, and sustainably manage natural ecosystems.
In this context, the USAID Climate Finance for Development Accelerator (CFDA) engaged CrossBoundary under the Natural Climate Solutions Activity on behalf of USAID/Brazil to gain a deeper understanding of the current investment landscape in the Brazilian Amazon biome.
This report outlines key opportunities for donors and philanthropic organizations to catalyze investment into bioeconomy and NbS businesses in the Brazilian Amazon. By strategically addressing the existing capital gaps highlighted donors and investors can play a transformative role in accelerating the shift toward a sustainable, standing-forest economy in the Amazon, benefiting both the environment and local communities.
