Brazil Knows What To Do To Fight Deforestation in the Amazon

This policy brief argues that Brazil's satellite-based monitoring (DETER) and law enforcement (IBAMA) are highly effective and cost-efficient tools for fighting deforestation. Between 2007 and 2016, these systems avoided the loss of 27,000 km2 of forest per year and nearly 1 billion tCO2 of emissions annually. The authors emphasize that these measures do not harm agricultural production and warn that a proposed 50% budget cut for 2020 could increase deforestation by 45%.

• Between 2007 and 2016, Brazil's combined monitoring and law enforcement efforts prevented the clearing of an average of 27,000 km2 of Amazon forest annually. Without these interventions, the document estimates that an additional 270,000 km2 of forest would have been lost during that period, which is more than four times the observed deforestation rate.
• The Real-Time System for Detection of Deforestation (DETER), developed by the Brazilian Institute for Space Research (INPE), revolutionized law enforcement by providing near-real-time satellite imagery. This allowed the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Natural Resources (IBAMA) to target illegal clearings quickly, increasing the likelihood of catching offenders 'red-handed' and enabling the seizure and destruction of expensive equipment like tractors.
• The monitoring and law enforcement strategy is highly cost-effective. Avoiding 27,000 km2 of forest loss per year prevents nearly 1 billion tCO2 of emissions annually, which is approximately half of Brazil's total 2017 emissions. With an estimated annual cost of $685 million (the combined budgets of INPE and IBAMA), the break-even price is $0.69/tCO2, significantly lower than global carbon prices which often exceed $10/tCO2e.
• Evidence suggests that environmental law enforcement does not negatively impact agricultural production. Analysis indicates that areas with an increased presence of law enforcement typically saw both a reduction in forest clearing and an increase in agricultural production in the following year. Furthermore, the reduction in deforestation was not caused by displacing illegal activities to neighboring areas.
• The document warns that proposed budget cuts for 2020 could severely undermine forest protection. A 50% reduction in the budget for environmental monitoring and law enforcement is estimated to increase Amazon deforestation by 45%.

APA

Assunção, J., & Gandour, C. (2019). Brazil Knows What To Do To Fight Deforestation in the Amazon. Climate Policy Initiative. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/PB-Brazil-Knows-What-To-Do-To-Fight-Deforestation.pdf

Chicago

Assunção, Juliano, and Clarissa Gandour. Brazil Knows What To Do To Fight Deforestation in the Amazon. Climate Policy Initiative, 2019. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/PB-Brazil-Knows-What-To-Do-To-Fight-Deforestation.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Assunção |first1=Juliano |last2=Gandour |first2=Clarissa |title=Brazil Knows What To Do To Fight Deforestation in the Amazon |publisher=Climate Policy Initiative |date=November 2019 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/PB-Brazil-Knows-What-To-Do-To-Fight-Deforestation.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{assuno2019brazil, author = {Assunção, Juliano and Gandour, Clarissa}, title = {{Brazil Knows What To Do To Fight Deforestation in the Amazon}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2019}, month = nov, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/PB-Brazil-Knows-What-To-Do-To-Fight-Deforestation.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }