Brazil launched the Amazon Fund last year to promote sustainable development and scientific research in the world’s largest rain forest with the help of international aid.
Norway has pledged $1 billion to the fund through 2015 and Germany pledged 18 million euros ($26.8 million).
The three first recipients are U.S.-based environment group The Nature Conservancy, Amazonas state and Imazon, an environmental research institute in the Amazon city Belem, the environment ministry said in a statement late on Thursday.
The Nature Conservancy in partnership with other groups will receive 16 million reais ($9.4 million) to regenerate degraded land and promote other environmentally-friendly practices in Mato Grosso state.
Imazon will receive 12 million reais to monitor land title registration and promote sustainable practices among farmers and loggers in the Amazon state of Para.
The Amazonas state government will receive 20 million reais for a fund that pays rubber tappers and other forest dwellers a stipend to help protect and regenerate the forest.
Brazil will announce a further three aid recipients at the Dec. 7-18 Copenhagen climate summit, where it will join with other developing countries to demand that industrialized nations pay more to protect carbon-trapping forests.
The South American nation, which is seeking a leadership role in climate talks, is eager to showcase it is serious about reaching its ambitious target of cutting greenhouse gas emissions by 20 percent from 2005 levels.
It also wants to show potential donors that the fund works. Some countries initially balked at the idea of contributing to the fund without having any say in its use.
