Through DETER's Lens: The Relationship between Degradation and Deforestation in the Amazon

The study finds that while the direct local conversion of degraded areas into deforested land is low (10% of total deforestation), there is a strong regional association: 30% of total deforestation occurs within one kilometer of previously degraded areas. This association is most frequent in medium or large private properties, rural settlements, and undesignated areas. The authors argue that degradation alerts can serve as a leading indicator for regional forest risk, suggesting that law enforcement should target both degraded areas and their immediate surroundings, particularly on private lands.

• Between 2017 and 2020, the Brazilian Amazon experienced an annual average of degradation of approximately 17,000 square kilometers, which is nearly double the average annual deforestation rate for the same period.
• Forest fire burned areas are the primary driver of degradation, accounting for over 70% of the total degraded area, followed by generic degradation (16%) and selective extraction (12%).
• Degradation is geographically concentrated in the states of Mato Grosso (40% of total) and Pará (33% of total), a distribution that differs from that of clear-cut deforestation.
• The direct local conversion rate from degradation to deforestation is low; only 10% of total deforestation measured by PRODES between 2017 and 2020 occurred in areas that were previously degraded.
• There is a significant regional association between the two phenomena: 20% of total deforestation occurred within 0.5 kilometers of degradation alerts, and 30% occurred within one kilometer.
• The association between degradation and subsequent deforestation is most frequent in undesignated areas, rural settlements, and medium or large private properties.
• Degradation is more heavily concentrated in medium or large private properties than clear-cut deforestation is, suggesting that policies like the Forest Code need greater effectiveness on private lands.

APA

Climate Policy Initiative (2021). Through DETER's Lens: The Relationship between Degradation and Deforestation in the Amazon. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/through-deters-lens-the-relationship-between-degradation-and-deforestation-in-the-amazon/

Chicago

Climate Policy Initiative. Through DETER's Lens: The Relationship between Degradation and Deforestation in the Amazon. 2021. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/through-deters-lens-the-relationship-between-degradation-and-deforestation-in-the-amazon/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Policy Initiative |title=Through DETER's Lens: The Relationship between Degradation and Deforestation in the Amazon |date=1 December 2021 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/through-deters-lens-the-relationship-between-degradation-and-deforestation-in-the-amazon/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatepolicyinitiative2021through, author = {{Climate Policy Initiative}}, title = {{Through DETER's Lens: The Relationship between Degradation and Deforestation in the Amazon}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2021}, month = dec, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/through-deters-lens-the-relationship-between-degradation-and-deforestation-in-the-amazon/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }