The Ministry of Indigenous Peoples (MPI) launched Vítuke, a financial mechanism created to boost the implementation of the National Policy for Territorial and Environmental Management of Indigenous Lands (PNGATI). The Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ), through the German Development Bank (KfW), and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation were announced as the first donors to the initiative, which also has planned support from the World Bank and aims to initially mobilize around R$550 million for Indigenous peoples. The design of the financial mechanism was supported by the Bezos Earth Fund and Re:wild.

Vítuke already starts with donations of €15 million from KfW, US$10 million from the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation, and a planned donation of US$4 million from the World Bank. The announcement was made during the panel “PNGATI and Climate Justice: The Importance of Environmental Management and Demarcation of Indigenous Lands in Brazil as Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies,” held at the Brazil Pavilion at COP30.

The initiative was conceived, created, and structured jointly by the Ministry of Indigenous Peoples (MPI) and the Indigenous Movement through its representative organizations, such as APIB, ANMIGA, the Coordination of Indigenous Organizations of the Brazilian Amazon (COIAB), among others. The management of Vítuke will be carried out by the Brazilian Biodiversity Fund (FUNBIO).

The financial mechanism will be an important private financing tool for consolidating PNGATI, which was established by decree in 2012 but has not yet been fully implemented. Through Vítuke, Indigenous funds and organizations themselves will be able to directly access resources in an effort that has the potential to support the protection of 100 million hectares and impact more than 300,000 Indigenous people—equivalent to nearly half of the current population, according to data from the 2022 Indigenous Census conducted by the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics (IBGE).

Investments are expected to be directed toward projects that promote the consolidation of territorial and environmental management in Indigenous territories, considering six areas of action: territorial and natural resource protection; Indigenous governance and participation; prevention and restoration of environmental damage; sustainable use of natural resources and productive initiatives; capacity building, training, and knowledge exchange; and management infrastructure. Among the various dimensions of the expected impact are the strengthening of Indigenous communities; the preservation of territories as a key element in addressing climate change; and significant benefits for biodiversity, since studies show these territories are highly effective in maintaining standing forests and consequently reducing deforestation.