The United States is launching a new initiative to assist South American countries in disrupting illegal activities that harm the Amazon rainforest, as announced by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen in Brazil on Saturday.
“Throughout the Amazon region, criminal organizations and individuals are driven by the desire for financial gain to unlawfully exploit plants, minerals, and wildlife,” Yellen stated in Belem, a city surrounded by vast stretches of dense forest in northern Brazil.
She noted that these “environmental crimes” result in billions of dollars in revenue each year and often involve the misuse of the US financial system.
As part of the initiative, the US Treasury will enhance coordination efforts by conducting “follow the money” training for partner countries, improving information sharing, and assisting in joint investigations, Yellen explained.
This project will involve collaboration between the United States, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Guyana, Peru, and Suriname.
“We will also explore other enforcement measures, such as sanctions when warranted, to hold illegal actors accountable and disrupt their operations,” Yellen added in Belem.
The capital of Para state is scheduled to host the COP30 climate conference in 2025.
The Amazon, the largest rainforest in the world, spans nearly 40% of South America. Over the past century, it has lost about 20% of its land to deforestation, driven by agricultural expansion, cattle farming, logging, mining, and urban development.
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