Government of Pará and Conservation International establish partnership to accelerate landscape restoration and strengthen the bioeconomy

On this Thursday (20), the government of Pará and Conservation International (CI-Brasil) announced, during COP30, a partnership to integrate actions and expand ecological and productive restoration, strengthen the bioeconomy, and enhance environmental monitoring systems in the State. The initiative reinforces the joint commitment to Nature-Based Solutions (NbS) to tackle the climate crisis and the biodiversity crisis.

The agreement was signed between the State Secretariat for Environment, Climate and Sustainability of Pará (Semas) and CI-Brasil, which will act as a technical partner in the implementation of restoration projects aligned with the Native Vegetation Restoration Plan of Pará (PRVN-PA) - which aims to restore 5.6 million hectares by 2030. The actions will be guided by the goals and timelines of CI-Brasil's structuring programs that already operate in the region.

The cooperation seeks to overcome historical bottlenecks, such as the low availability of seeds and seedlings, while expanding economic opportunities in local communities. The formalization of a partnership represents a decisive step for Pará to advance in the implementation of the PRVN-PA with scale, quality, and predictability. By aligning public policies, applied science, and social investments, the agreement creates the necessary conditions to consolidate a restoration economy in the State - structuring productive chains, strengthening territories, and increasing the capacity to generate mitigation, adaptation, and development for those who live from the forest.

“The partnership established today shows that Pará is willing to turn ambition into results and highlights Conservation International's (CI-Brasil) commitment to support this implementation. When different sectors work together, Nature-Based Solutions cease to be a concept and generate real benefits for the climate and new socioeconomic opportunities in the territories,” emphasized CI-Brasil's Vice President, Maurício Bianco.

The Secretary of Environment, Climate and Sustainability of Pará, Raul Protázio Romão, highlights the strategic role of the agreement. “Pará has committed to restoring its native vegetation and building an economy that values standing forests. The agreement with CI-Brasil strengthens our capacity to implement the PRVN-PA, structure productive chains, and ensure that restoration generates jobs, income, and inclusion in the communities that live from the forest,” said the secretary.

Training, bioeconomy, and strengthening the restoration chain

The partnership provides for the professionalization and training of restoration agents - including nurserymen, seed collectors, technical assistance and rural extension technicians, and restoration implementers - to stimulate local networks and strengthen the productive base of the forest bioeconomy.

The initiative also includes support for the structuring of nurseries, seed networks, and specialized technical services, expanding the supply of forest inputs, traceability, and supply logistics in the state. The agreement also involves the development and integration of methodologies, social and environmental safeguards, and ecological, socioeconomic, and governance monitoring systems, aligned with the PRVN-PA.

By connecting science, communities, and public policies, the agreement contributes to structuring lasting solutions to expand restoration in the state.

Structuring projects that support the agreement

The planned actions will be implemented based on ongoing CI-Brasil programs that operate directly in the Pará territory. They are:

· Restore Amazon – Macroregion 3: R$ 170 million to restore 5,000 hectares in Maranhão and Pará by 2031, with actions in Conservation Units, Indigenous Lands, Rural Settlements, and properties of up to four fiscal modules. Forecast to also strengthen seed and nursery networks in the territory.
· Forest for Well-Being (FBE): R$ 29.5 million to restore up to 1,008 hectares by 2027, including actions in Pará and components for technical-managerial training and strengthening the restoration chain.
· Productive Restoration in the Belém Endemism Center (CEB): R$ 17 million to implement productive restoration with agroforestry systems (SAFs) in Tomé-Açu over 19 hectares by 2029, with integrated ecological and socioeconomic monitoring. Productive Restoration in the Belém Endemism Center (CEB): R$ 2 million to implement productive restoration with agroforestry systems (SAFs) in Tomé-Açu over 19 hectares by 2029, with integrated ecological and socioeconomic monitoring.Productive Restoration in the Belém Endemism Center (CEB): R$ 2 million to implement productive restoration with agroforestry systems (SAFs) in Tomé-Açu over 19 hectares by 2029, with integrated ecological and socioeconomic monitoring.
· Sustainable Value Chains: Designed exclusively for Pará, with a duration until 2027. R$ 12.5 million to support nurseries, seed networks, and restoration businesses, as well as to develop instruments such as the Mini Guide of RENASEM for formalizing the production of seedlings and seeds - also launched at COP30.

Announcement made during a panel at the Pará Pavilion

The partnership was publicly presented at the panel “Cooperation for Restoration in Pará: Paths to Scale Nature-Based Solutions,” held at the Pará Pavilion in the Green Zone of COP30. The debate brought together representatives from key institutions in the restoration agenda in the state. In addition to the head of Semas and the vice president of CI-Brasil, also participated Viviane Figueiredo, Project Manager for the Amazon at CI-Brasil, Rodrigo Freire, Leader of Private Areas - Brazilian Amazon at The Nature Conservancy Brazil and Executive Secretary of the Alliance for Amazon Restoration, and Patrick Sandre, Full Engagement Analyst for Forests, Food Systems, and Land Use at WRI Brazil.

The panel highlighted the importance of multilateral cooperation to transform commitments into action, connecting public policies, science, communities, and investments to drive ecological and productive restoration in the State.

The symbolic signing formalized the joint commitment to expand results and strengthen restoration governance in Pará.

About Conservation International (CI-Brasil)

Conservation International (CI-Brasil) is a non-profit organization that uses science, policy, and partnerships to protect the nature that people depend on for food, fresh water, and livelihoods. Since 1990 in Brazil, Conservation International works in over 30 countries on six continents to ensure a healthy and prosperous planet that sustains us all. More information can be found here.

About Semas

The State Secretariat for Environment, Climate and Sustainability (Semas) is the body responsible for formulating, coordinating, and executing environmental public policies in Pará, acting in the protection of biodiversity, combating deforestation, environmental licensing and inspection, and promoting sustainable development. With integrated actions throughout the Pará territory, Semas seeks to balance economic growth and conservation, strengthening initiatives for regularization, monitoring, environmental education, and partnerships with various sectors of society to ensure quality of life and the protection of the natural resources of the Amazon.

With information from CI-Brasil