Briefing #8 Tropical Fores T s a n d c l i m a T e Brazil’s Success in Reducing Deforestation hile national efforts to reduce increase in Norway’s emissions as a result of global warming emissions in its commitment to Brazil. the United States have flagged, Thus, the cooperation of these two coun- one tropical developing nation, tries has already achieved a reduction in global Brazil, has made dramatic warming pollution comparable to the reductions ©IPAM Wstrides—without receiving much attention that both the United States and the European for its success. Detailed analyses of publicly Union have only pledged to achieve by 2020.5 available satellite photos show that Brazil has This means it is no longer necessary to talk reduced deforestation in the Amazon enough about REDD+ as a proposal or a set of future over the past five years to lower heat-trapping actions—we can now see how REDD+ works, emissions more than any other country on and that it can be remarkably successful. Earth.1 This success demonstrates the enor- What is even more impressive is that Brazil mous potential of reducing emissions from has achieved this success while simultaneously deforestation and forest degradation as well increasing agricultural production (see the figure as conserving and re-growing tropical forests on the next page) and significantly reducing 2 Doug Boucher (the international effort known as REDD+). REDD+ was proposed by developing Brazil has already achieved a countries in 2005 as an international strategy reduction in global warming by which tropical countries would reduce de- forestation (which is responsible for about 15 pollution comparable to the percent of all global warming pollution) and reductions that both the United be compensated by wealthy nations for any States and the European Union have resulting economic losses. Two of the strongest initial supporters of the concept were Norway, only pledged to achieve by 2020. which pledged $2.5 billion for the effort, and Brazil, which announced a national plan to hunger and poverty. During the last decade the reduce its deforestation rate 80 percent by country has enjoyed a high rate of GDP growth 2020 (compared with its average rate over and exported large amounts of beef and soy © IPAM the decade 1996–2005) and later made this despite the world recession. Moreover, through commitment part of its national law.3 social programs such as Fome Zero (Zero Hun- Between 2005 and 2010, Brazil nearly ger) and Bolsa Familia (Family Allowances), Brazil met its goal—a full decade ahead of schedule. has lifted more than 10 million of its citizens Data from 2009–2010 showed that Brazil’s out of poverty and substantially lowered rates area of deforestation, which averaged 19,508 of hunger and malnutrition.6 square kilometers (km2) per year during the baseline decade of 1996–2005, had dropped How It Was Done 67 percent, to just 6,451 km2. UCS analysis Brazil’s dramatic reduction in deforestation of this change, using a formula for converting is the result of several different efforts. First, at deforested area to CO2 emissions based on both state and federal levels, the country greatly Tim Donaghy Tim the work of the research institute IMAZON,4 expanded its network of indigenous reserves estimated a reduction in Brazil’s global warm- and protected areas (including sustainable-use ing pollution of nearly 1 billion tons. reserves), which now encompass more than half Norway has committed $1 billion to of Brazil’s Amazon forest.7 Just as important, compensate Brazil for its emissions reductions; these reserves have been effectively protected. the first payment of $110 million was made in Indigenous peoples now control 20 percent of 2009. And unlike the case with “offset” fund- the Brazilian Amazon, and their collective land ing (whereby corporations in industrialized tenure rights have been reinforced by official nations pay for emissions reductions in tropical titles and the support of the state in stopping countries and, in exchange, are permitted to illegal encroachment by non-indigenous ranchers, Calen May-Tobin emit more heat-trapping gases in their own farmers, and miners. Strong enforcement of countries), there will be no corresponding logging laws, including seizures of illegal timber, closing of illegal sawmills, can increase their productivity in ways dynamics that encouraged governments and jailing of the perpetrators (includ- that make deforestation unnecessary.11 and businesses to act. Now, with the ing government officials who had been Brazil’s reductions in deforestation national plan to end deforestation clearly taking bribes to look the other way), are impressive, but further progress is ahead of schedule, the Zero Defores- has shown that the government’s by no means guaranteed. Indeed, the tation campaign is pushing for a new commitment to stopping deforesta- last two years have seen a backlash from goal of zero deforestation by 2015. tion is real. the Brazilian Congress’s “ruralista” Norway, too, played a vital role Brazil’s citizens played a critical bloc, which is attempting to weaken in creating an economic incentive for role in pushing their government to the Forest Code. Furthermore, increas- Brazil’s actions (even though Brazil go further and in exerting pressure es in world soy and beef prices along absorbed a majority of the costs). for change on the businesses that are with proposals to develop new roads Norway’s funding of REDD+ for the the main agents of deforestation.8 and dams in the Amazon would create first five-year period reflects a financial The Zero Deforestation campaign, for new pressure for deforestation, requir- investment that goes far beyond that example, which was launched in 2008 ing increased efforts just to protect made by any other country, amount- by a broad coalition of environmental, the progress made so far. ing to about $100 per year from each indigenous, rubber-tapper, human Norwegian citizen.12 Both Brazil and rights, and other non-governmental Sharing the Credit Norway—the former tropical and organizations (NGOs), played an im- Brazilian political leaders including developing, the latter boreal and devel- portant role in pushing the federal Marina Silva, former President Luis oped—have provided examples to the government to act. In 2006 and 2009, Inacio Lula da Silva, and the governors rest of the world that are worth emu- Brazilian NGOs also conducted widely of several Amazon states deserve credit lating. They have shown how we can for this accomplishment, as do the Bra- act to deal with global warming if zilian NGOs that created the political we have the political will to do it. Brazil’s reductions in deforestation are Deforestation and Cattle and Soybean Production in Brazil impressive, but further 250 30,000 Both cattle progress is by no and soybean Deforestation rate (km means guaranteed. ) 25,000 production 200 have continued 20,000 to increase publicized exposés of the role the soy- 150 steadily in bean and beef industries have played Brazil in the in deforesting the Amazon;9 the result- 15,000 past several ing publicity led to commitments from 100 years—even as those industries not to sell products 10,000 deforestation 2 raised on deforested land. /year) rates have dropped to More recently, the presidential cam- 50 and cattle herd (million head 5,000 record low paign of former Environment Minister levels. Marina Silva, who received 20 percent Soybean production (millon metric tons) of the vote as the Green Party candidate, 0 0 1995 2000 2005 2010 showed the breadth of support for stopping Amazon deforestation rapid- Soybean production 10 ly. Research institutes such as IPAM Deforestation rate and IMAZON have been important Cattle herd in monitoring progress and showing Sources: USDA Foreign Agriculture Service, PDS Online (http://www.fas.usda.gov/psdonline/psdHome.aspx); Brazilian how ranchers, farmers, and loggers National Space Research Institute (INPE) (http://www.obt.inpe.br/prodes/index.html). Doug Boucher prepared this summary with help from Estrellita Fitzhugh, Sarah Roquemore, Patricia Elias, and Katherine Lininger (Tropical Forest and Climate Initiative, Union of Concerned Scientists). © February 2011 Union of Concerned Scientists Printed on recycled paper with vegetable-based inks Two Brattle Square, Cambridge, MA 02138-3780. Main Office (617) 547-5552 • Washington, DC (202) 223-6133 Endnotes 1 INPE. 2010. Amazon deforestation has decreased 14% INPE estimates 6,451 km2 for 2009/2010 periods. December 1. Online at http://www.inpe.br/ingles/news/ news_dest154.php. 2 See, for example: publications of the UN-REDD program (http://www.un-redd.org) and Union of Concerned Scientists reports (http://www.ucsusa.org/REDD). 3 Government of Brazil. 2009. Law #12.187 of 29 December 2009. Diario Oficial da União, #248-A, Secciao 1, 109–110. Brasilia. 4 IMAZON. 2010. Transparencia florestal. July. Online at http://www.imazon.org.br/novo2008/publicacoes_ler.php?idpub=3726. 5 Brazil’s estimated reduction from the baseline is 870 million tons of CO2 annually. The United States has promised a 17 percent reduction from its 2005 level, which amounts to 1,200 million tons. The European Union has promised a 20 percent reduction from its 1990 level, which amounts to about 850 million tons. 6 Rocha, C. 2009. Developments in national policies for food and nutrition security in Brazil. Development Policy Review 27:51–66. And: Chappell, M.J., and L.A. LaValle. 2011. Food security and biodiversity: Can we have both? An agroecological analysis. Agriculture and Human Values, in press. DOI: 10.1007/ s10460-009-9251-4. 7 Soares-Filho, B., et al. 2010. Role of Brazilian Amazon protected areas in climate change mitigation. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences 107:10821–10826. And: Ricketts, T.H., et al.