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

The 2023 report on the Brazilian Forest Code implementation highlights a significant but uneven leap in CAR analysis and PRA regulation across states. While automated tools have accelerated progress in states like Mato Grosso do Sul and Pará, a critical bottleneck remains: only 2.7% of national registrations have completed analysis, largely due to the high volume of required data rectifications and communication failures with property owners. Political shifts in CAR management between federal ministries have added uncertainty, though subnational leadership continues to drive implementation.

• In 2023, the management of the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) was transferred from the Ministry of Agriculture and Livestock (MAPA) to the Ministry of Management and Innovation in Public Services (MGI) via Law no. 14,600 and Decree no. 11,731/2023. However, the transition is incomplete, and the Brazilian Forest Service (SFB) continues to manage the database.
• The number of CAR registrations increased by 8.6% in the last year, reaching 7.24 million by November 2023. Bahia and Minas Gerais have the highest number of registrations, each exceeding one million.
• The analysis of CAR data is the primary bottleneck in the Forest Code's implementation. While over one million CARs (approximately 14.1% of all registrations) have undergone analysis, only about 2.7% of the country's registrations have reached analysis completion.
• Automated analysis tools have significantly increased scalability in six states: Amapá, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraná, and São Paulo. Mato Grosso do Sul analyzed 70% of its cadastral base, and Paraná tripled its number of analyzed CARs using these tools.
• A major obstacle to completing CAR analyses is the need for data rectification; in São Paulo, nearly 90% of registrations processed by the system require rectification. In Pará, 123,000 out of 219,000 analyzed registrations are awaiting producer responses to notifications.
• Implementation of the Environmental Compliance Program (PRA) remains uneven. While 16 states and the Federal District have regulated the PRA, 10 states (including Alagoas, Espírito Santo, and Roraima) are significantly delayed in developing a normative framework for environmental regularization.
• Certain states have adopted flexible or alternative regulations for Legal Reserve liabilities. Rondônia and Mato Grosso regulated the reduction of the Legal Reserve percentage from 80% to 50% for recovering liabilities. Goiás enacted State Law no. 21,231/2022, which extends the possibility of compensating Legal Reserve liabilities until 2019 using a 2:1 metric.
• The Plot CAR Module (MLC) was operationalized in 2023 via Normative Instruction no. 131/2023 to allow individual registration of plots in agrarian reform settlements. This has been implemented in nine states, resulting in 2,273 registrations.

APA

Climate Policy Initiative (2023). 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-2023-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. 2023. 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-2023-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=18 December 2023 |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-2023-edition/ |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatepolicyinitiative2023where, 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 = {2023}, 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-2023-edition/}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }