Securing nature and humanity's future

The Amazon rainforest—home to one in 10 known species on Earth—is one of the most biodiverse places on the planet. It stores vast amounts of carbon, regulates the global climate, and sustains food and water supplies. Without it, communities in the forest—and around the world—face serious consequences.

Safeguarding the Amazon and the thousands of families that live there requires more than commitment—it demands long-term, stable investment. That's why WWF and its partners have worked in the region for more than two decades. First, through ARPA (Amazon Region Protected Areas), which was created by the Brazilian government, WWF, FUNBIO, and other partners in 2002 to preserve forests and support the consolidation of more than 150 million acres of protected areas in the Amazon.

In 2014, ARPA evolved into ARPA for Life, an initiative that secured $215 million in funding to protect this vital ecosystem and ensure a future where people and nature thrive.

Despite growing awareness of the Amazon’s importance, conservation efforts remain critically underfunded. Today, ARPA for Life is changing that, driving lasting policy reforms and ensuring protected areas are well-managed, sustainably financed, and supportive of the communities that depend on them.

A model for lasting conservation

Through the Project Finance for Permanence (PFP) model, ARPA for Life unites governments, institutions, and local communities to protect 154 million acres of Amazon rainforest—an area nearly 1.5 times the size of California.

Since its inception, ARPA for Life has harnessed the power of partnerships, uniting public institutions and private philanthropists towards a transformative vision, helping build stable governance that has endured political shifts. Thanks to their early investments, ARPA has grown into the largest tropical forest conservation initiative in history.

Building on this strong foundation, we are now accelerating progress—channeling the momentum of past successes into a bold new chapter that deepens impact and catalyzes the next phase of work to protect the Amazon.

Conservation by communities, for communities

This next phase, ARPA Comunidades—launched in November 2025 by the government of Brazil, Brazilian communities, and a broad coalition of partners, including WWF—is scaling impact—by connecting forest protection with community prosperity and empowering local people to lead and benefit from conservation.

Together with local partners, through ARPA Comunidades, we are:

• Strengthening forests and livelihoods: Expanding access to markets, tools, and services that help communities earn income and improve quality of life by producing non-timber forest products—like tonka beans and acai—sustainably.
• Empowering local leadership: Strengthening community organizations that manage protected areas and benefit from the forest’s natural resources.
• Reducing deforestation: Supporting locally led efforts to create and safeguard protected areas in the most at-risk regions and strengthen the bioeconomy, which will reduce pressure on standing forests in sustainable use reserves.

By investing in sustainable forest economies, ARPA Comunidades is helping protect standing forests, increase their value to society, and create new opportunities for people who depend on them.

Protection for life

For 20 years, ARPA has evolved to meet the Amazon’s changing challenges—adapting strategies, strengthening protections, and inspiring similar models in Bhutan, Peru, and Colombia. Together with Heritage Colombia and Peru's Natural Legacy, ARPA for Life ensures durable conservation for 12% of the entire Amazon.

With ARPA Comunidades, that impact is expanding, linking forest protection with community well-being and sustainable development.

None of this progress would be possible without partners who helped turn an ambitious idea into a world-changing model. Today, continued philanthropic support and collaboration are essential—not just to protect the Amazon, but to secure our planet’s future for generations to come.