Many countries use deforestation as a tool to make money, but imagine if there was a way to incentivize them to maintain their forests. Enter Brazil’s Tropical Forests Forever Facility.

According to The New York Times, Brazil wants to pay developing countries a fee of $4 for every 2.5 acres of forest maintained each year. He also wants to fine countries $400 for every 2.5 acres lost during the year. This figure is about the same as what a soy farm would yield for 2.5 acres, one of the most profitable land uses in the Amazon.

Brazil estimates the fund will be worth $125 billion, according to the Times. Brazil’s proposal involves rich countries and philanthropic organizations loaning the fund $25 billion, which they would get back with interest. In addition, it is hoped that private investors will invest $100 billion, which will be repaid at a fixed rate. Then the Tropical Forests Forever Facility would invest the money in a diversified portfolio to repay investors. This process is the way a bank works.

“The idea is elegant” said Frances Seymour, senior adviser for forests at the U.S. State Department, according to the Times.

Brazil plans to finalize the operation of the fund this year and deploy it next year.

This fund is crucial because forests are essential to people around the world. According to the World Wildlife Fund70 million people “live in forests”. Not only do forests provide housing for humans, they also provide jobs, food, fuel and oxygen: more than 1.6 billion people worldwide “depend on forests for food and fuel “.

If we lose the forests, we lose all these basic needs.

Additionally, forests are known as a “carbon sink” because they absorb polluting gases from the air. According to the World Resources Instituteglobal forests absorb 7.6 billion tonnes of polluting gases per year. This is 1.5 times more than is published each year in the United States.

Forests also have a cooling effect. Researchers have found that forests can keep the planet half a degree cooler, and in some places they can even keep it more than a degree cooler.

The best way to help protect these precious resources is to donate to climate causes who work to protect forests around the world.

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