Forest Degradation in the Brazilian Amazon

The report defines forest degradation as the partial loss of forest biomass and argues that it is an increasingly relevant threat to the Brazilian Amazon, often acting as a precursor to deforestation. Analyzing data from 2007 to 2016, the study finds that degradation affects a larger area than clear-cut deforestation, averaging 11,000 km² annually. The relationship between degradation and subsequent deforestation varies by land tenure: it is lowest in protected territories and highest in small private properties and rural settlements. The authors suggest that degradation can serve as a leading indicator for imminent environmental damage, necessitating tailored public policies based on governance structures.

• Forest degradation is a widespread phenomenon in the Brazilian Amazon, affecting significantly larger areas than clear-cut deforestation. Between 2007 and 2016, the annual average of degraded forest was 11,000 km², which is double the annual average for deforested areas during that same period.
• Forest degradation is geographically concentrated in the Arc of Deforestation. Specifically, the states of Pará and Mato Grosso account for 75% of degraded areas and 64% of deforested areas annually on average.
• While only 9% of degraded areas across the entire Amazon are deforested within three years, degradation often serves as a regional indicator of imminent deforestation, particularly when considering deforestation occurring in the vicinity of the degraded site.
• The conversion of forest degradation to deforestation is lowest in protected territories, likely because the higher risk of detection by law enforcement makes further vegetation removal less attractive given the harsher penalties for environmental crimes in these areas.
• In rural settlements and small private properties, degradation is frequently followed by nearby and on-site deforestation. This is attributed to the high cost of clearing tropical forests, meaning smallholders and settlers may use degradation to remove cover incrementally at a lower cost.
• The primary drivers of forest degradation in Brazil are forest fires and selective logging. Selective logging involves extracting specific high-value timber species and creating access roads, while fires typically destroy fragile plants first, reducing the resilience of the remaining vegetation to future fires.

APA

Gandour, C., Menezes, D., Vieira, J. P., & Assunção, J. (2021). Forest Degradation in the Brazilian Amazon. Climate Policy Initiative. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/DQ-Forest-Degradation-in-the-Brazilian-Amazon.pdf

Chicago

Gandour, Clarissa, Diego Menezes, João Pedro Vieira, and Juliano Assunção. Forest Degradation in the Brazilian Amazon. Climate Policy Initiative, 2021. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/DQ-Forest-Degradation-in-the-Brazilian-Amazon.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gandour |first1=Clarissa |last2=Menezes |first2=Diego |last3=Vieira |first3=João Pedro |last4=Assunção |first4=Juliano |title=Forest Degradation in the Brazilian Amazon |publisher=Climate Policy Initiative |date=March 2021 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/DQ-Forest-Degradation-in-the-Brazilian-Amazon.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gandour2021forest, author = {Gandour, Clarissa and Menezes, Diego and Vieira, João Pedro and Assunção, Juliano}, title = {{Forest Degradation in the Brazilian Amazon}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2021}, month = mar, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/DQ-Forest-Degradation-in-the-Brazilian-Amazon.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }