A report from the NGO Center of Life Institute (ICV) reveals that 91% of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon last year was illegal, while the Cerrado region saw 51% unauthorized clearing. Legal limits allow certain levels of deforestation, but significant illegal activity persists, driven by insufficient regulatory oversight and transparency. Experts advocate for improved enforcement and financial disincentives to curb illegal practices and protect biodiversity.
A recent report reveals that a staggering 91% of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon over the past year was illegal. This analysis conducted by the NGO Center of Life Institute (ICV) covers the period from August 2023 to July 2024, highlighting a concerning trend in forest clearing without proper authorization. In the adjacent Cerrado region, considered the world’s most biodiverse tropical savanna, 51% of clearing was unauthorized.
Brazilian law permits certain legal deforestation on private lands for economic purposes, such as cattle ranching and soy farming. Specifically, landowners in the Amazon are allowed to clear up to 20% of their property with government permits, while in the Cerrado, this limit rises to 80%. Nonetheless, researchers from ICV discovered that a considerable amount of deforestation was not reflected in official databases, indicating an alarming prevalence of illegal activity.
Vinicius Salgueiro from ICV’s Territorial Intelligence Unit emphasized the significant challenge posed by illegal deforestation in Brazil. While enhancing law enforcement is essential, he advocated for additional measures that render illegal clearing financially unfeasible to disrupt the prevailing mindset that views illegal deforestation as profitable.
The research methodology involved cross-referencing satellite monitoring alerts from the Brazilian space agency with national and state deforestation permit databases. Any detected clearing not found in the official records was categorized as illegal. The findings revealed that from August 2023 to July 2024, only 9% of Amazon deforestation and 49% of Cerrado deforestation had obtained legal authorization.
Further analysis showed that out of the 16 states in these biomes, only eight fully integrated their permit data into the federal database, Sinaflor, compromising effective tracking of legal deforestation. Marcondes Coelho of ICV’s transparency program noted that the disjointed permit system fosters transparency issues and creates openings for fraud. This condition facilitates illegal deforestation while undermining environmental laws.
Suely Araújo, public policy coordinator at Brazil’s Climate Observatory, pointed out that illegal deforestation has long plagued the Amazon. She mentioned the increasing presence of organized crime and the lack of effective public authority engagement as persistent issues in the region. Regarding the Cerrado, Araújo stressed that although some deforestation is authorized, it is often excessive and necessitates stricter control.
The alarming figures presented by this report underscore the urgent need for comprehensive strategies to combat illegal deforestation in Brazil’s critical biomes, enhancing both transparency and regulatory effectiveness.
The findings from the ICV report reveal a grave situation regarding illegal deforestation in Brazil, particularly in the Amazon and Cerrado regions. The data shows that a vast majority of deforestation activities were unauthorized, highlighting deficiencies in monitoring and regulatory frameworks. Addressing this issue requires stronger enforcement and systems that discourage illegal practices, as well as more sustainable land use policies. Ultimately, ensuring transparency and proper oversight is essential to safeguarding Brazil’s rich biodiversity.
Original Source: news.mongabay.com
