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

This fact sheet argues that recent legislative changes in Brazil have introduced discretionary steps in the fine validation process, increasing the risk of impunity for illegal logging. It highlights that law enforcement was key to reducing deforestation between 2007 and 2016 and warns that the current centralized sanctioning procedure is vulnerable to political influence.

• Law enforcement and penalties were critical in reducing Amazon deforestation since 2004, with evidence indicating that deforestation would have been five times higher between 2007 and 2016 if enforcement efforts had not been in place.
• Recent legislative changes have added a validation step for fines that requires approval from an inspector's direct report. This report lacks a review deadline and a requirement for a technical report, granting authorities 'excessive discretion' over administrative processes and agent activities.
• The process for environmental sanctions in Brazil is vulnerable to political influence and bottlenecks due to centralization. Because Ibama superintendents and the president are appointed by the Minister of the Environment and manage multiple functions, the risk of impunity increases and fines may be '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} }