Chief Raoni is an iconic figure in the ongoing battle against deforestation, standing as a living symbol of the fight for the preservation of the Amazon rain forest and Indigenous culture.
30 years after his first visit to Europe, the great defender of the Amazon, native Brazilian leader Raoni, has embarked on a three-week tour of Europe and that will end in Luxembourg, where he will meet the Prime Minister and Minister of State Xavier Bettel on 20 May 2019.
Chief Raoni, who is known for his efforts to protect the Amazonian rain forests, hopes to raise €1 million in order to preserve the Xingu reserve, home to several indigenous communities in Brazil. Widely considered the planet’s lungs, the Amazon is home to an impressive number of species. Unfortunately, it is increasingly threatened by growing forestry operations and the food industry.
Financing the fight against deforestation is therefore more relevant than ever and a vital issue for the indigenous populations of the Amazon. This will be the focus of this discussion between Chief Raoni and Prime Minister Xavier Bettel. Minister of Finance Pierre Gramegna will also participate in the talks.
Luxembourg, through its level of expertise in the field of sustainable financial and environmental development, is recognised as a global referent and actively supports the fight against climate change in developing countries.
Some of this development aid is dedicated to forestry projects, and the Government, in collaboration with private financial actors, created the "Forestry and Climate Change Fund" (FCCF) in 2017 for this very purpose. This innovative fund aims to support the sound management of secondary forests in Central America, specifically in their key role of acting as the “The Lungs of Our Planet”.
