Petrobras and the Brazilian Development Bank (BNDES) have launched the first public call for the ProFloresta+ program, aiming to acquire 5 million high-integrity carbon credits. The initiative will establish five contracts, each covering 1 million credits, generated from ecological restoration of at least 3,000 hectares per contract in either private areas or public forest concessions within the Amazon biome over a period of 25 years.
Angélica Laureano, Petrobras’ Director of Sustainability and Energy Transition, commented: “Our team is very optimistic about this first transaction of ecological restoration carbon credits by Petrobras. The expectation is that it will serve as a reference for price and technical requirements for generating high-quality carbon credits from forest restoration in our biomes.”
The ProFloresta+ program was developed by Petrobras together with BNDES to provide financing to project developers selected through this call. Financing options include special credit lines such as Fundo Clima, which offers suitable rates and terms for long-term ecological restoration projects—up to 25 years—with an annual financial cost of 1%. The initiative could drive more than R$450 million in investments.
Tereza Campello, Socioenvironmental Director at BNDES, stated: “BNDES is helping transform the forestry sector into an engine of the green economy. With credit, non-reimbursable resources and financial innovation, we are creating real conditions to scale up restoration and sustainable use of our biomes. ProFloresta+ is an example of this vision: an instrument that will strengthen the high-integrity carbon market and generate concrete benefits for people and the planet.”
ProFloresta+ will support new projects (“greenfield”), allowing time for winners to structure their operations—including land acquisition or leasing, sourcing seeds and seedlings, planting activities, and certifying carbon credits. The first batch of credits must be delivered within seven years after contract signing; subsequent deliveries are required every five years until the end of the 25-year contract term.
Companies have 30 days to submit proposals. Among those passing technical pre-qualification, contracts will go to projects restoring degraded areas with native species that can offer carbon credits at the lowest price. Petrobras guarantees purchase through long-term contracts (offtake agreements), with prices set during bidding.
This initial call allows consortia of up to four companies; each participant may secure up to three contracts (maximum total: 3 million credits). Proposals can be submitted for lots covering one, two or three million credits. Details are available on Petronect—the Petrobras procurement portal—at www.petronect.com.br (Opportunity 7004526249).
The joint initiative was announced in March 2025 as a partnership between Petrobras and BNDES designed to promote forest restoration in the Amazon through revenue from selling carbon credits. The goal is to restore approximately 50,000 hectares in degraded Amazon areas while generating up to 15 million carbon credits.
Technical support came from Nature Investment Lab (NIL) and Instituto Clima e Sociedade (iCS). Agroicone and Imaflora contributed technical standards on integrity and safeguards with iCS’s backing; legal advice was provided by Mattos Filho law firm.
Beyond reducing emissions, ProFloresta+ aims to increase native vegetation cover, conserve biodiversity, strengthen management capacity in Brazil’s forest restoration sector, and advance development of Brazil’s carbon credit market.
