Where does Brazil stand with the implementation of the Forest Code? A snapshot of CAR and PRA in Brazilian states

This 2024 report by the Climate Policy Initiative and PUC-RIO monitors the implementation of Brazil's Forest Code (Law No. 12,651/2012), specifically focusing on the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and the Environmental Compliance Program (PRA). It details the progress of various Brazilian states in registering rural properties, analyzing those registrations, and formalizing environmental recovery through Terms of Commitment (ToC).

• The Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) has seen a steady increase in registrations, reaching a total of 7.65 million by November 2024, which represents a 5.7% increase from the previous year. Bahia and Minas Gerais hold the highest number of registrations, each with more than one million in their databases.
• CAR analysis remains the primary bottleneck in the implementation of the Forest Code, with only approximately 3.3% of all registrations nationwide having completed analysis as of 2024. While this is a 30% increase over the previous year, the process is hindered by poor registration quality, data lags, and communication difficulties with landowners.
• Automation is being used to scale CAR analysis in ten states, including the use of the Brazilian Forest Service's (SFB) streamlined analysis tool in states like Alagoas, Ceará, and Rio de Janeiro. Mato Grosso has implemented a distinct 'Digital CAR' approach that cross-references perimeters with high-resolution cartographic bases to create more accurate registrations.
• The implementation of the Environmental Compliance Program (PRA) varies by state; 19 states and the Federal District have regulated the PRA and adopted metrics for recovering liabilities. However, seven states—Paraíba, Piauí, Rio Grande do Norte, Rio Grande do Sul, Roraima, Santa Catarina, and Sergipe—have not yet established a minimum set of rules for environmental regularization.
• Mato Grosso leads in the number of rural properties undergoing environmental regularization under the PRA, with approximately 1,850 properties and a 70% increase in signed Terms of Commitment (ToC) over the previous year. Pará has signed 1,120 ToCs, committing to a much larger total area of recovery (233,000 hectares of APP and Legal Reserve).
• Federal management of the CAR transitioned in 2024 to a shared model between the Brazilian Forest Service (SFB) and the Ministry of Public Management and Innovation (MGI). This transition faced obstacles, including data migration delays from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) and system instability that hampered the streamlined analysis module.

APA

Climate Policy Initiative (2024). Where does Brazil stand with the implementation of the Forest Code? A snapshot of CAR and PRA in Brazilian states. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/where-does-brazil-stand-with-the-implementation-of-the-forest-code-a-snapshot-of-car-and-pra-in-brazilian-states-2024-edition/

Chicago

Climate Policy Initiative. Where does Brazil stand with the implementation of the Forest Code? A snapshot of CAR and PRA in Brazilian states. 2024. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/where-does-brazil-stand-with-the-implementation-of-the-forest-code-a-snapshot-of-car-and-pra-in-brazilian-states-2024-edition/.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Policy Initiative |title=Where does Brazil stand with the implementation of the Forest Code? A snapshot of CAR and PRA in Brazilian states |date=5 December 2024 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/where-does-brazil-stand-with-the-implementation-of-the-forest-code-a-snapshot-of-car-and-pra-in-brazilian-states-2024-edition/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatepolicyinitiative2024where, author = {{Climate Policy Initiative}}, title = {{Where does Brazil stand with the implementation of the Forest Code? A snapshot of CAR and PRA in Brazilian states}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2024}, month = dec, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/publication/where-does-brazil-stand-with-the-implementation-of-the-forest-code-a-snapshot-of-car-and-pra-in-brazilian-states-2024-edition/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }