photo: CIAT

Recent reports indicate that deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is not slowing down. In fact, it has jumped almost sixfold in the March-April period of this year, according to satellite images taken by the National Institute of Space Research. One factor which is contributing to this rise is the increasing demand for agricultural land to grow soy, cotton and other products – and new policies may propel this demand even further.

Brazil’s Congress is expected to vote next week on proposed changes to Brazil’s Forestry Code. This Code was enacted in 1934 and amended in 1965 to help protect native Brazilian forests by limiting the amount of land a farmer can deforest. Regulations currently require landowners in Brazil to maintain 80% of their land as forest but current proposals would effectively allow more land to be converted for agricultural purposes.

The point of contention raised in recent reports is whether the current law impedes Brazil’s economic development and therefore needs to change. Environmentalists feel that changing the Forest Code to allow more land to be used for agriculture would be a disaster for Brazil’s rainforest ecosystems, while industries argue the changes are crucial to the country’s economy.

Deforestation and degradation in the Brazilian Amazon increasingly reflect market demands and private sector profitability, combined with a policy arena that, although averse to continued forest clearing, actively promotes activities that are among its principle driving forces.

Current government measures undertaken to reduce deforestation continue to be undermined by contradictory policies, particularly those within the agribusiness and mining sectors. The proposed amendments to the Forest Code would certainly exacerbate this trend.

Moreover, the potential amendments to the Forest Code may have an important negative effect on Brazil’s capacity to reduce emissions from deforestation and degradation (REDD), an international policy approach developed under the United Nations Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Brazil is also a key actor in the Interim REDD+ Partnership, currently chairing it with France.

Brazil’s main challenge in mitigating climate change is deforestation, which is responsible for up to 75% of Brazil’s CO2 emissions. Brazil has adopted a target for the reduction of deforestation of 80% in the Amazon and of 40% in Cerrado by 2020.

But we expect Brazil will take the necessary steps to ensure legislation and policies promote their deforestation targets. The first steps were taken last week with the launch of GLOBE Forest Legislator Initiative. ClientEarth met with senior legislators from Brazil, Indonesia, Mexico and the Democratic Republic of Congo to launch the GLOBE Legislator Forest Initiative to develop complementary legislation that will contribute to efforts aimed at reducing emissions from deforestation and degradation. 

The participating legislators made contributions to strengthen the role of their parliaments in creating effective, efficient and equitable laws for REDD. Brazilian Senator, Rodrigo Rollemberg said: “As chair of the Brazilian Senate Environment Committee I will considering the amendments to the Forest Code and advancing legislation on REDD. Participating in the GLOBE Legislator Forest Initiative will enable me to understand how legislation in other countries is being developed, introduced and implemented to address challenges that are common to all our countries. These lessons will have a strong impact on my own deliberations in Brazil.” ClientEarth find these words encouraging.