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

The report provides a snapshot of the implementation of the Brazilian Forest Code in 2023, highlighting the roles of the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and the Environmental Compliance Program (PRA). While some states like Minas Gerais, Pará, and São Paulo have made significant strides through automated analysis tools and improved communication with landowners, the overall process remains bottlenecked at the analysis stage. The document also details the registration of traditional territories and the introduction of a specific module for agrarian reform settlement plots.

• The management of the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) underwent significant federal transitions in 2023, moving 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, though the Brazilian Forest Service (SFB) continues to manage the database during the transition.
• Nationwide CAR enrollment is consolidated, with total registrations increasing by 8.6% to reach 7.24 million by November 2023; Bahia and Minas Gerais have the highest volumes, each exceeding one million registrations.
• The analysis of CAR data remains the primary bottleneck in implementing the Forest Code, with only approximately 14.1% of all Brazilian registrations having undergone analysis and only 2.7% reaching full analysis completion.
• Six states adopted automated CAR analysis tools in 2023—Amapá, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraná, and São Paulo—which increased scalability, particularly for properties smaller than four fiscal modules.
• The registration of Traditional Peoples and Communities (PCT) territories is progressing, with Maranhão (680), Bahia (345), and São Paulo (310) reporting the highest numbers of CAR/PCT registrations.
• A new Plot CAR Module (MLC) was operationalized in 2023 via Normative Instruction no. 131/2023 to allow individual registration of plots in agrarian reform settlements, with 2,273 registrations completed across nine states including Goiás, Maranhão, and Paraíba.
• Implementation of the Environmental Compliance Program (PRA) is uneven; 16 states and the Federal District have regulated it, but 10 states—including Piauí, Rio Grande do Sul, and Tocantins—remain significantly delayed in developing a normative framework.
• Some states are integrating the Forest Code with other policies to combat deforestation; for example, Amazonas cross-references INPE deforestation alerts with CARs to suspend registrations and impose fines.

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} }