Ireland donates $16 million to Brazil's Amazon Fund

SAO PAULO (Reuters) - Ireland announced on Wednesday a donation of 15 million euros ($16.3 million) to Brazil's Amazon Fund, the Brazilian government said.

The donation to the fund, which aims to stop deforestation and preserve the world's largest tropical rainforest, will be made over the next three years, Brazil's Environment Ministry said in a statement.

The donation is Ireland's first to the fund, raising the list of donors to eight countries, the statement added.

The Amazon fund, which is managed by Brazil's development bank, supports the prevention, monitoring and combat of Amazon deforestation and fosters sustainable development.

It has funded 123 projects with a total investment of 3.1 billion reais ($534.6 million), the ministry said.

Norway, Germany, United States, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Switzerland and Japan have also donated to the fund.

The announcement of Ireland's donation was made in a meeting in Sao Paulo between Brazil's Environment Minister Marina Silva and Ireland's Transportation Minister Sean Canney, according to the statement

($1 = 0.9185 euros)

($1 = 5.7989 reais)

(Reporting by Andre Romani; editing by Diane Craft)

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