Australia has signed a deal to protect forests in neighbouring countries - one of the first agreements reached at the Copenhagen climate conference.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd announced Australia would provide $A108 million over three years towards the $US3.5 billion fund.
The United States has pledged more than $US1 billion.
The money will be used from next year to protect forests in countries such as Indonesia and Papua New Guinea from being logged, to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
