WCS President and CEO Adam Falk speaks at the United Nations at the “Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) Solutions Dialogue" on September 23, 2025. Credit ©WCS

New York, Sept 23, 2025— The following remarks were delivered today by WCS President and CEO Adam Falk at the United Nations. He spoke at the high-level event, the “Tropical Forest Forever Facility (TFFF) Solutions Dialogue,” convened by the Government of Brazil and chaired by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

“Your Excellency, President of Brazil, Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, it is an honor, on behalf of the Wildlife Conservation Society, to extend my respectful greetings to you, and through you, to the distinguished Heads of State, Ministers, and authorities present here today.

“Mr. President, we are deeply honored by this invitation to speak on the Tropical Forest Forever Facility. We congratulate you, and Her Excellency Minister Marina Silva, whom we had the privilege of honoring last night, for advancing this bold and innovative proposal. We commend Brazil’s leadership on your global climate and environmental agenda, as well as your efforts to ensure the success of COP30 – the “Amazonia” COP.

“Tropical forests, especially those with high ecological integrity, are essential for biodiversity, climate stability, and the well-being of Indigenous Peoples and local communities. Yet the global economic system still drives their destruction, and financing for their conservation remains far behind what is needed.

“The Wildlife Conservation Society – the world’s largest field-based conservation organization – has been privileged to collaborate with Brazil and its partners from the earliest stages of the TFFF. We have helped strengthen its technical design, we have worked alongside you to engage civil society, academia, and the private sector, and we were among the first organizations to endorse the mechanism publicly.

“We believe the TFFF will be transformative. It recognizes the true value of tropical forests and will provide sustained resources for those who protect them. Its design is environmentally robust and financially sound, and its proposed governance is solid.

“When fully operational, the TFFF can become one of the most important mechanisms to reward tropical countries, Indigenous Peoples, and local communities for conserving their forests – not only in the Amazon, but also in regions such as Central Africa, which urgently need greater support.

“Sovereign, corporate, and financial market actors have an unprecedented opportunity to participate in the TFFF by mobilizing their share of the 125 billion US dollars in investments needed to deliver on the TFFF’s promise. 

“Distinguished Heads of State, Ministers, colleagues, and friends: COP30 is approaching fast. The opportunity before us is historic. Let us join together in supporting the leadership of President Lula and Minister Marina Silva, along with TFFF leaders in other countries, to help ensure a successful and ambitious climate conference and turn the TFFF into a reality.”

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