Belém: President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva of Brazil, hosting world leaders for a climate summit, launched a fund Thursday to protect the world's forests, key absorbers of planet-warming carbon.

In what Lula dubbed "one of the main tangible outcomes" expected from the gathering, the so-called Tropical Forest Forever Facility is meant to gather investments of $125 billion from governments and private investors in the long term, with startup funding of $10 billion that has not yet been received.

"When forest destruction reaches irreversible points, its effects will be felt across the world. Forests are worth more standing than cut down. They should be part of the GDP of our countries," said Lula.

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