Brazil's pioneering rainforest & livelihoods scheme

The Bolsa Floresta Programme (BFP) in Amazonas, Brazil, uses a payment for ecosystem services (PES) model to reduce deforestation while supporting local communities through cash transfers and infrastructure investments. Since 2007, it has expanded to 583 communities and 10.9 million hectares, reporting a 54% reduction in deforestation rates compared to pre-2008 levels. However, the programme faces challenges regarding the low value of cash payments and the difficulty of monitoring remote areas.

• The Bolsa Floresta Programme (BFP) employs a four-part strategy to balance conservation and development: funding sustainable small enterprises (such as ecotourism and honey production), investing in community infrastructure for health and education, supporting civic associations for empowerment, and providing monthly payments of approximately 30 USD to female heads of household in exchange for zero net deforestation.
• Between 2008 and 2016, the BFP invested BRL 119.4 million (US$37.3 million), with 76% of these funds going directly to communities. The programme has scaled to cover 583 communities across 10.9 million hectares of forest and has funded 67 schools, 160 radio communication stations, and 91 river ambulances.
• Data indicates a 54% reduction in the deforestation rate in BFP areas compared to the pre-2008 baseline, and 90% of surveyed participants believe the programme has reduced deforestation and forest fires. However, the scheme's effectiveness is hindered by the low value of cash payments, which do not fully compensate for lost forest income, and the difficulty of monitoring the vast and inaccessible Amazon rainforest.

APA

Martin, B. (2018). Brazil's pioneering rainforest & livelihoods scheme. Green Economy Coalition. https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/brazils-pioneering-rainforest-livelihoods-scheme

Chicago

Martin, Ben. Brazil's pioneering rainforest & livelihoods scheme. Green Economy Coalition, 2018. https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/brazils-pioneering-rainforest-livelihoods-scheme.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Martin |first1=Ben |title=Brazil's pioneering rainforest & livelihoods scheme |publisher=Green Economy Coalition |date=8 November 2018 |url=https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/brazils-pioneering-rainforest-livelihoods-scheme |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{martin2018brazils, author = {Martin, Ben}, title = {{Brazil's pioneering rainforest \& livelihoods scheme}}, institution = {Green Economy Coalition}, year = {2018}, month = nov, url = {https://www.greeneconomycoalition.org/news-and-resources/brazils-pioneering-rainforest-livelihoods-scheme}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }