RECENT CHANGES TO LEGISLATION MAY INCREASE DEFORESTATION AND IMPUNITY IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON. HERE’S HOW.

The document argues that law enforcement and penalties were critical in reducing Amazon deforestation since 2004, noting that without such efforts, deforestation would have been five times higher between 2007 and 2016. It highlights that recent legislative changes have introduced a new validation step for fines that lacks deadlines and technical justification, granting authorities excessive discretion. Furthermore, the centralization of judgments within Ibama increases the risk of impunity and political influence, as officials are appointed by the Minister of the Environment and may 'negotiate' fines.

• Law enforcement and penalties were essential for reducing deforestation in the Amazon from 2004 onwards, with evidence indicating that deforestation would have been five times higher between 2007 and 2016 without these enforcement efforts.
• Recent legislative changes have added a validation step for fines that requires review by an inspector's direct report; this step lacks a deadline or a requirement for a technical report, allowing authorities to exercise excessive discretion over administrative processes.
• The centralization of judgments within Ibama increases the risk of impunity and political influence because the superintendents and president are appointed by the Minister of the Environment and manage multiple functions, which can bottleneck the process and lead to fines being 'negotiated'.

APA

Climate Policy Initiative (n.d.). RECENT CHANGES TO LEGISLATION MAY INCREASE DEFORESTATION AND IMPUNITY IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON. HERE’S HOW. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Impunity-Increases-Deforestation-in-the-Amazon_Infographic_.pdf

Chicago

Climate Policy Initiative. RECENT CHANGES TO LEGISLATION MAY INCREASE DEFORESTATION AND IMPUNITY IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON. HERE’S HOW. n.d. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Impunity-Increases-Deforestation-in-the-Amazon_Infographic_.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |author=Climate Policy Initiative |title=RECENT CHANGES TO LEGISLATION MAY INCREASE DEFORESTATION AND IMPUNITY IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON. HERE’S HOW. |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Impunity-Increases-Deforestation-in-the-Amazon_Infographic_.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{climatepolicyinitiativendrecent, author = {{Climate Policy Initiative}}, title = {{RECENT CHANGES TO LEGISLATION MAY INCREASE DEFORESTATION AND IMPUNITY IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON. HERE’S HOW.}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2021/06/Impunity-Increases-Deforestation-in-the-Amazon_Infographic_.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }