Norway blocks 30 mn-euro deforestation subsidy to Brazil

Oslo: Norway said on Thursday it would halt Amazon protection subsidies worth 30 million Euro to Brazil which it accused of turning its back on the fight against deforestation.

Days after Germany also withdrew money promised for forest protection in Brazil, Norway said the South American nation "broke the agreement" with contributors to the Amazon Fund. Norway was the single largest donor, giving almost 830 million Euros to the fund since its creation 11 years ago.

"Brazil broke the agreement with Norway and Germany since suspending the board of directors and the technical committee of the Amazon Fund,"

Norway's Environment Minister Ola Elvestuen told the Dagens Naeringsliv newspaper.

"They cannot do that without Norway and Germany agreeing," he insisted.

The Amazon is vital for absorbing planet-warming carbon dioxide in the atmosphere and converting it into life-giving oxygen, but concern about the forest has grown since Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro took office in January.