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This research paper investigates the impact of state-assisted Rural Settlements on deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon between 2002 and 2014. The authors find that while overall deforestation in the region declined during this period, the area covered by Rural Settlements increased significantly, contributing to approximately 30% of total deforestation in the Amazon Biome by 2014. The study highlights a paradox where 'Special Settlements'—those designed with environmental conditions—were the primary drivers of this impact, particularly in remote areas far from the agricultural expansion frontier.

This briefing by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) reports that rural settlements were responsible for 30% of deforestation in the Amazon region in 2014. The research highlights that 'special settlements,' intended to promote sustainable practices, contributed disproportionately to this figure, accounting for half of the deforestation caused by all rural settlements.

This report examines the historical and systemic issues of land tenure in rural Brazil, highlighting how irregular property rights, fragmented registration systems, and the lack of a unified cartographic base contribute to social conflict, illegal deforestation, and challenges in implementing the Forest Code.

The report analyzes public finance in Côte d’Ivoire for 2015 to determine how much investment aligns with the National REDD+ Strategy. It finds a significant gap between current funding and the investment needed to reach 2030 forest cover goals, noting that the majority of land-use finance is 'grey'—agricultural intensification that may drive deforestation due to a lack of safeguards.

This report provides a 2016 progress update on the first ten goals of the New York Declaration on Forests (NYDF). It evaluates global trends in natural forest loss, private sector commitments to deforestation-free supply chains, restoration pledges under the Bonn Challenge and UNFCCC, and the evolution of international climate finance and forest governance.

The 2016 Goal 2 Assessment Report evaluates progress toward eliminating deforestation from agricultural commodity supply chains, specifically palm oil, soy, cattle, and wood products. While corporate pledges are increasing, the report finds a significant gap between high-level commitments and operational implementation, particularly in the cattle and soy sectors. It emphasizes that while downstream companies in Europe and North America lead in pledging, the most critical impact comes from upstream producers in deforestation hotspots like Brazil and Indonesia. The report concludes that global data linking these corporate efforts to actual reductions in deforestation is currently unavailable.

This working paper by the Climate Policy Initiative, supported by PILAR and UNPAR, proposes a framework for district-level natural capital assessment in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. It argues that current land valuations underestimate the true value of ecosystem services and are hindered by inconsistent government regulations and data gaps. The paper recommends a pilot assessment in Kotawaringin Timur due to its high concentration of palm oil infrastructure and critical high conservation value areas.

This CPI working paper proposes a design for natural resource valuation at the district level in Central Kalimantan, Indonesia. It argues that current land valuation fails to account for critical ecosystem services like carbon storage and water provision, leading to suboptimal land-use decisions. The paper identifies Kotawaringin Timur as a priority area for a comprehensive valuation study due to its high deforestation rates, significant concentration of palm oil infrastructure, and the presence of extensive High Conservation Value (HCV) areas that are currently under-protected.

This executive summary describes a study on High Conservation Value (HCV) areas in Central Kalimantan province, conducted by the Palangkaraya Institute for Land Use+Agricultural Research (PILAR) and the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI). The report identifies critical biological, ecological, social, and cultural values to inform sustainable land-use planning and the province's Strategic Environmental Assessment (KLHS).

A research paper finds that Brazil's 2008 Resolution 3,545, which tied rural credit to environmental and land-titling compliance, reduced deforestation in the Amazon by approximately 60%. The effect was strongest in cattle-ranching areas and driven by a reduction in medium and large loans, demonstrating a positive correlation between credit availability and land clearing in the region.

This report provides an overview of climate change risks, vulnerable sectors, and adaptation policies in Burkina Faso, highlighting the government's efforts to mainstream climate considerations into priority sectors and the role of international funding.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the economic, social, and environmental consequences of insecure land rights in rural Brazil, highlighting how these insecurities hinder growth and environmental protection while identifying systemic governance obstacles.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative examines the social, economic, and environmental consequences of insecure rural land rights in Brazil. It identifies key drivers of instability, such as the 'social function of property' requirement and institutional complexity, and outlines obstacles to reform, including the lack of an integrated land database and the prevalence of illegal land grabbing (grilagem).

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI) examines the insecurity of rural land property rights in Brazil, detailing the social, economic, and environmental costs of this instability and the institutional obstacles preventing its resolution.

This policy brief analyzes the coherence of national development, conservation, and climate policies in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru using a water-energy-food (WEF) nexus approach. It identifies significant trade-offs between ambitious renewable energy and agricultural targets and the preservation of the Amazon biome's ecosystem services, which are critical for regional water, food, and energy security.

This briefing discusses the use of innovative trade-flow modelling to increase transparency in agricultural supply chains in Amazonia. By linking production jurisdictions in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru to downstream actors, the authors argue that stakeholders can better identify deforestation risks and build coalitions to transition toward sustainable production landscapes.

This briefing describes the economic and environmental impacts of sugarcane mill expansion in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul between 2005 and 2012. Based on a study by INPUT researchers, the document highlights how the industry has reshaped local municipal economies, shifted land use from pasture to sugarcane, and contributed to a reduction in deforestation.

This research paper examines how recent regulatory changes in Brazil's transport infrastructure—specifically highways, railways, and ports—impact agricultural productivity. The authors argue that a general trend toward more complex regulation seeks to limit private profits, which in turn erodes investment incentives and operational efficiency, necessitating costly public subsidies.

This executive summary describes a study by the Climate Policy Initiative and PUC-Rio on the economic and environmental impacts of sugarcane mill expansion in Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil. The findings indicate that the arrival of these mills significantly restructured local municipal economies, increasing GDP, population, and tax revenues while shifting land use from pasture to sugarcane and reducing deforestation.

A statement by Friends of the Earth International marking the 5th anniversary of the UN Guiding Principles on Business and Human Rights, arguing that these principles have failed to stop corporate impunity or provide access to justice, and advocating for a binding UN treaty on business and human rights.