Brazil and China to work together to restore vegetation, carbon sinks

President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva led a delegation on his trip to China, which resulted in the signing of several agreements between the two nations across various sectors, including a shared commitment to cooperate on vegetation restoration and carbon sinks.

On Tuesday, May 5, in Beijing, the Brazilian and Chinese governments signed a memorandum outlining initiatives to be developed in this area. The document was signed by Brazil’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, and Liu Guohong, President of China’s National Forests and Grasslands Administration (NFGA), in a ceremony attended by Presidents Lula and Xi Jinping. During the event, 26 additional agreements were also announced and signed between the two governments.

The restoration agenda, which is at the core of the agreement between Brazil’s Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) and the NFGA, is crucial for addressing climate change. The recovery of forests and other types of vegetation enhances carbon capture and storage by plants and soils, which is essential to reducing atmospheric CO₂ and mitigating global warming.

China has implemented some of the world’s largest reforestation programs, such as the ‘Great Green Wall’ and ‘Grain for Green’. Brazil—home to the world’s largest tropical forest area—has extensive experience with agroforestry systems using native species. Through this memorandum, the two countries will share experiences and technologies and deepen cooperation to advance vegetation restoration. In doing so, they will make a significant contribution to combating climate change and promoting sustainable development at the global level”

Marina Silva
Brazil’s Minister of Environment and Climate Change

ECOSYSTEM SERVICES – This measure also supports the maintenance of essential ecosystem services, such as climate and water regulation and biodiversity conservation. In addition, it provides cultural, educational, and recreational benefits to humanity and sustains the livelihoods of Indigenous peoples, as well as traditional peoples and communities.

“China has implemented some of the world’s largest reforestation programs, such as the ‘Great Green Wall’ and ‘Grain for Green’. Brazil—home to the world’s largest tropical forest area—has extensive experience with agroforestry systems using native species. Through this memorandum, the two countries will share experiences and technologies and deepen cooperation to advance vegetation restoration. In doing so, they will make a significant contribution to combating climate change and promoting sustainable development at the global level,” stated Marina Silva.

DEGRADED LANDS – The agreement reinforces collaboration between Brazil and China in the areas of climate and the environment in the lead-up to COP30. It will also support Brazil in achieving its goal of restoring 12 million hectares of degraded land by 2030, as outlined in the country’s National Native Vegetation Recovery Plan (Plano Nacional de Recuperação da Vegetação Nativa /PLANAVEG). This target is part of Brazil’s Nationally Determined Contribution (NDC), its formal commitment to reducing greenhouse gas emissions under the Paris Agreement.

TECHNOLOGY TRANSFER – The memorandum also establishes implementation mechanisms such as technology transfer and knowledge exchange—including data, documents, and relevant research findings; expert mobility between the two countries; the organization of exchange programs, training courses, seminars, and workshops; and the holding of annual meetings to discuss cooperation plans and their implementation.

The partnership between Brazil and China will cover the following areas:

• Dialogue on policies and instruments related to the sustainable management of forests, grasslands, and other forms of vegetation;
• Monitoring of forests, grasslands, wetlands, and other forms of vegetation and their resources;
• Restoration of forests and other types of vegetation;
• Forest cultivation, as well as the protection and restoration of grasslands;
• Development of trade in timber and non-timber forest products, as well as products derived from grasses;
• Combating desertification, land degradation, and drought;
• Methodologies for measuring carbon sinks in forests, grasslands, and other types of vegetation and ecosystems;
• Promotion of sustainable alternatives and substitutes for conventional plastics, especially those derived from bio-based raw materials; and
• Promotion of the sustainable use of forests and other forms of vegetation to support the livelihoods of Indigenous peoples and local communities.