Belém, November 2025 – The Amazon Cooperation Treaty Organization (ACTO) today, the 19th, announced its proposed financial mechanism, a regional initiative created to finance actions that implement the common Amazonian agenda: biodiversity, forests, water; urgent measures to prevent the biome’s point of no return, and economic development with social inclusion.
The Amazonian Mechanism for Cooperation and Action (MACA) aim to mobilize US$ 250 million over a 10-year period, with contributions from multilateral entities and development banks. The initial projected portfolio will provide scale, continuity, and financial stability to priority regional programs, strengthening the region’s ability to turn political commitments into concrete action.
The announcement event was attended by Martín Von Hildebrand, ACTO Secretary-General; Rómulo Acurio, Ambassador of Peru in Brazil; Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean); Jens Mackensen, representative of KfW (German Development Bank); Dyveke Rogan, representative of the Government of Norway; and Ferruccio Santteti, representative of GGGI (Global Green Growth Institute). The debate was moderated by ACTO Administrative Director, Edith Paredes.
Following the announcement of the mechanism and its name – MACA – further steps will be necessary until it reaches the fundraising phase and is fully operational.
The partner organizations that participated in the announcement congratulated the initiative and made themselves available to continue collaborating technically with ACTO.
Martín Von Hildebrand, ACTO Secretary-General, emphasized the importance of MACA for achieving the objectives of environmental preservation and sustainable development in the region. “The Amazon is a system, where every piece has its place. Every country has its autonomy, but all are part of that system. The Amazon is fundamental for all of us, and that is why we have to work together,” affirmed Von Hildebrand.
“The announcement of MACA is an important event because it accompanies the redefinition of the mission of this cooperation organization among eight Amazonian countries. They are eight different countries with complementary visions on Amazonian governance. This new mechanism, this new fund, will help the organization support the dissemination of policies and good practices for sustainable governance in the Amazon,” said the Ambassador of Peru in Brazil, Rómulo Acurio, coordinator of the financial mechanism working group.
Jens Mackensen, from KfW, highlighted the joint work with ACTO and the positive future prospects of the mechanism’s implementation. “It is a pleasure to be part of the announcement of MACA. From our perspective, it is a great step forward to enable cooperation and action by member countries in the Amazon Basin, and I believe it will boost some of the activities for the Amazonian territories,” emphasized Mackensen.
“The announcement is absolutely relevant because it shows the strength of the political articulation around a strategic system as important as the Amazon will have the capacity to mobilize financing and, therefore, have autonomy in decision-making capacity. Furthermore, it will have to think deeply about the communities, their needs, and reconcile the interests of several countries while simultaneously addressing the interests of the people,” said Alicia Montalvo, Manager of Climate Action and Positive Biodiversity at CAF (Development Bank of Latin America and the Caribbean). MACA’s visual identity was developed based on the natural elements of the Amazon, such as the colors and shapes of the leaves, river waters, and soil, which are common to all countries, reinforcing regional unity and cooperation. Its choice was agreed upon by consensus among the organization’s eight member countries.
