William criticises Amazon forest deforestation crime in Brazil visit

The Prince of Wales criticized criminals involved in deforestation in the Amazon rainforest in his speech in Rio de Janeiro.

William was speaking at the United for Wildlife conference on Tuesday as part of his royal visit to Brazil.

“Last year alone, more than 1.7 million hectares of the Amazon were cleared in this region… much of it resulting from illegal activities,” he told the audience.

Earlier, William visited the tiny Brazilian island of Paqueta, home to just 4,000 people, where he was greeted by dozens of people and handed a baby in his arms.

After a first day consisting of an official reception with football at Maracana Stadium and barefoot beach volleyball in Copacabana, the future king’s second day in Brazil and the reason for his visit focused on the environment.

Hollywood star Leonardo Di Caprio recorded a video message calling the world leaders gathered in Brazil at the summit to “unite with courage and ambition”.

A first-of-its-kind wildlife summit hosted by William on Tuesday highlighted the damage caused by environmental crime, and the prince announced a new fund for wildlife rangers.

William described Latin America as a “global leader in biodiversity and environmental conservation.”

Criticizing deforestation linked to criminal gangs, he said: “This crime fuels violence and corruption, disrupts legitimate economies and negatively impacts the livelihoods of millions.”

But he concluded on an optimistic note: “We must stand with those who stand up and defend nature every day.

“We must recognize and celebrate these protectors, not just with words but with our actions. And we must act together.”

Prince William is in Brazil on Wednesday to present the Earthshot Award, the annual award from the charity he founded.

He is also scheduled to speak the next day at COP30, the UN’s annual climate meeting, where governments discuss how to limit and prepare for climate change.

Early on Tuesday, he was taken by a Brazilian navy boat to the island of Paqueta, which is known to have trained West Ham and Brazilian footballer Lucas Paqueta.

During a stroll around the harbor, 10-month-old Joaquim Monteiro jumped into her arms.

“I shouldn’t drop him,” the father of three joked before handing Joaquim over to his grandparents.

The baby’s cousin and teacher, Andre Luis Junior, said: “We are so happy that he chose this very little candidate.

“We’re very unique in the heart of Rio. We’re very quiet. We’re so glad he chose to come here. The kids at school were so excited today.”

Just an hour away from Rio de Janeiro by boat, Paqueta is an escape from the busyness of the city.

Cars are not allowed on the island as all travel is done by foot, car or horse-drawn carriage.

The pace of life is slow, but the biodiversity of the region is rich.

Once back on the water, the prince was taken by boat to Guanabara Bay and shown the mangroves.

The trees and shrubs that make up mangroves are a protected area of ​​natural beauty that have been replanted following deforestation.

Its benefits are extensive, from storing carbon to serving as a buffer zone during stormy weather.

But they need protection.

Prince William was part of the conservation effort by planting saplings in the bay to ensure the survival of the mangroves.

“I hope they grow up well,” Prince William said. “Next time I come back, these will all be mangroves.”

While in Paqueta, the future king also spoke to local residents and said he asked Glaucia Martinez, a 60-year-old retired lawyer, about Paqueta.

“I said it was safe, charming and a good place to live,” he said, adding that they were all “living in peace.”

“The people here, they’re good, good people, you know, honest people,” he told the prince, before expressing his love for the Princess of Wales.

“And I said I loved Kate.”

Paqueta mayor Rodrigo Toledo said the prince’s visit was “very important” because the island is “completely dedicated to environmental protection and we know that Prince William devoted his life to this agenda.”

The Earthshot Prize Awards Ceremony will be held at Rio’s futuristic Museum of Tomorrow. Kylie Minogue and Shawn Mendes will perform at the event on Wednesday evening.

Five projects will each win a £1 million prize for their environmental innovation. The shortlist includes the Chinese city of Guangzhou and Lagos Fashion Week in Nigeria, which was nominated for its work reshaping the fashion industry with its electric public transport network.

Prince William will wrap up his visit to Brazil with the COP30 event in Belem in the Amazon rainforest.

This is his father, King King III, who had previously paved the way for the royal family. It marks the first time she and Charles have traveled internationally for a COP summit.

The prince accompanied his father to the summit in Glasgow in 2021, two weeks after the first Earthshot Award.

The prize awards grants of £1 million each year across five different categories to projects aiming to repair the world’s climate, and the prince has devoted himself to the work for 10 years, with Rio marking the halfway point of the initiative.

Prince William’s visit to Brazil will be his most significant royal engagement this year and his first official visit since the crisis surrounding his uncle Andrew.