Remarks by Secretary of the Treasury Janet L. Yellen Announcing the Amazon Region Initiative Against Illicit Finance in Belém, Brazil

As Prepared for Delivery I am glad to end a productive trip to Brazil here in Belém, at the mouth of the Amazon Delta and a gateway to the Amazon rainforest. I want to thank the federal police, and other governmental authorities for attending this roundtable. I appreciate your tireless work to defend the Amazon rainforest against illegal logging and deforestation, illegal mining, and related criminal activity. I am very excited to open this roundtable by announcing the launch of the Amazon Region Initiative Against Illicit Finance, which will support efforts to disrupt nature crimes, especially those causing devastation in the Amazon. Across the Amazon, criminal organizations and individuals are motivated by the potential for financial gain to illegally harvest plants, minerals, and wildlife.