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The briefing analyzes forest degradation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2007 to 2016, defining it as the partial loss of forest biomass. It finds that degradation is more widespread than clear-cut deforestation, averaging 11,000 km2 per year, and is concentrated in the 'Arco do Desmatamento', specifically in Mato Grosso and Pará. The study highlights that the relationship between degradation and subsequent deforestation varies by land tenure category: while conversion is low in protected territories, it is higher in small private properties and rural settlements, where degradation may serve as a low-cost precursor to total forest removal. The authors argue that degradation should be used as an indicator of imminent environmental damage to better allocate scarce public resources.

The report defines forest degradation as the partial loss of forest biomass and argues that it is an increasingly relevant threat to the Brazilian Amazon, often acting as a precursor to deforestation. Analyzing data from 2007 to 2016, the study finds that degradation affects a larger area than clear-cut deforestation, averaging 11,000 km² annually. The relationship between degradation and subsequent deforestation varies by land tenure: it is lowest in protected territories and highest in small private properties and rural settlements. The authors suggest that degradation can serve as a leading indicator for imminent environmental damage, necessitating tailored public policies based on governance structures.

The project aims to establish two connectivity corridors in the Ecuadorian Amazon to combat habitat fragmentation and biodiversity loss. It focuses on the Putumayo-Aguarico and Palora-Pastaza landscapes, targeting the creation of 50,000 hectares of new protected areas. The strategy involves promoting Sustainable Land Management (SLM) in agricultural areas, strengthening bioeconomy initiatives for indigenous and local communities, and creating multi-level governance platforms to integrate connectivity into territorial planning. The project is funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF) with a total cost of $6,423,853 and significant co-financing from the Ecuadorian government and international partners.

The briefing analyzes the transition from Provisional Measure MP nº 910/2019 to Bill PL nº 2633/2020, concluding that the proposed environmental safeguards are ineffective. It argues that relying solely on the verification of environmental fines and embargoes allows illegally deforested areas to be titled without requiring the regularization of environmental liabilities, effectively rewarding environmental crimes. The authors suggest that the Ministry of Agriculture, Livestock and Supply (MAPA) should strategically integrate land and environmental policies to ensure compliance with the Forest Code.

The report analyzes the contracting of Technical, Economic, and Environmental Feasibility Studies (EVTEA) and Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) for federal land transportation projects in the Amazon. It finds a significant lack of transparency in how these studies are selected, assessed, and approved, as well as a lack of clarity in budget allocations. Analysis of EIA budgets for the Ferrogrão railroad and highway BR-364 shows that over 50% of funds are spent on diagnostic analysis, while only 6% are allocated to risk assessment and mitigation measures. The authors recommend defining clearer selection criteria, establishing upfront budget allocations, and introducing a 'pre-viability phase' to shift diagnostic analysis earlier in the project life cycle.

The report identifies significant transparency gaps in the procurement of Technical, Economic, and Environmental Viability Studies (EVTEA) and Environmental Impact Studies (EIA) for land transport projects in the Amazon. It highlights that a disproportionate amount of EIA budgets is spent on diagnostics rather than impact assessment and mitigation. The authors recommend clarifying selection criteria in tenders, detailing budget allocations for socio-environmental components, and introducing a 'pre-feasibility' phase to shift diagnostic analysis earlier in the project lifecycle.

The transition to low-carbon technologies is highly mineral-intensive, requiring an estimated 3 billion tons of minerals and metals to achieve a below 2°C future. This demand increases the risk of deforestation and fragmentation of intact forest landscapes (IFLs), particularly in the Amazon and Congo Basin. In the Amazon, mining contributes up to 9% of IFL area loss, while in the Congo Basin, the demand for cobalt for batteries drives exploration in high-forest-cover areas. Analysis shows a gap in corporate and government governance, with only a minority of assessed companies adopting specific forest-related commitments and 78% of state and regional governments lacking forest management plans that directly address mining-related deforestation.

The Stockholm Environment Institute (SEI) developed a prioritization framework using remote sensing and watershed mapping to assess the impact of wildfires on water resources in the Chiquitania region of Bolivia. This tool aims to guide policymakers in using the watershed as the primary unit for land and water management, filling a gap in existing restoration plans that overlook hydrological issues.

The document critiques the concept of 'net zero deforestation,' arguing that it erroneously equates the protection of indigenous forests with the planting of new forests, which cannot replace the 'unrecoverable carbon' and ecosystem services of natural forests. It further asserts that agricultural certifications for soy, such as RTRS and Proterra, are insufficient because they represent only 1.5% to 3% of global production and often allow large-scale monocultures and pesticides. The author calls on banks, insurers, and investors to pressure soy traders like Cargill to stop purchasing soy from land converted after January 1, 2020.

The document highlights the role of the soya industry in driving deforestation in Brazil's Amazon and Cerrado regions, noting that tropical deforestation accounts for approximately 8% of global annual greenhouse gas emissions. It identifies the 'ABCD group' (ADM, Bunge, Cargill, and Louis Dreyfus) as key traders failing to prevent deforestation due to a lack of cut-off dates, standardized clauses, and traceability. The author urges financial institutions to require traders to implement a cut-off date no later than January 1, 2020, establish full traceability and independent monitoring, and respect indigenous human rights, threatening the suspension of financial services for non-compliance by January 1, 2022.

The report finds that increased rural credit generally boosts agricultural production and productivity while reducing deforestation pressures, particularly in the Amazon and Cerrado biomes. This occurs as credit enables producers to shift from extensive livestock ranching to more intensive crop cultivation. The analysis reveals that these positive land-use effects are most pronounced in the Amazon and Cerrado, while productivity gains are more significant in the Atlantic Forest, Pampas, and Caatinga. Additionally, the report notes that rural credit has a substantially higher positive impact on grain production compared to other crops.

The report analyzes how rural credit affects Brazilian agribusiness, finding that increased credit supply generally boosts agricultural production and productivity. In the Amazon and Cerrado biomes, credit specifically encourages the conversion of pasture to crop land, which reduces deforestation pressures and increases the area of native forests. The impact varies by biome and product, with grain production showing significantly larger increases in production and productivity compared to other crops.

The report examines how forest fires, driven by both climate change and deliberate land clearing, create poor air quality that severely impacts public health. It highlights specific crises in the Amazon, Australia, and Canada, noting increased hospital admissions and respiratory issues, and calls for a moratorium on land-clearing fires in the Amazon and alignment with the Paris Agreement's 1.5°C target.

The document examines how forest fires, driven by both intentional land clearing and climate change, create severe air pollution that impacts human health globally. It highlights specific crises in the Amazon, Australia, and Canada, noting increased respiratory and cardiovascular emergencies, adverse pregnancy outcomes, and significant disruptions to healthcare infrastructure. The authors call for forest protection, improved community adaptation, long-term health research, and global climate action aligned with the Paris Agreement.

The report highlights the severe health risks posed by biomass burning in the Brazilian Amazon, noting that air quality often exceeds WHO safety limits during the burning season. It emphasizes the disproportionate impact on vulnerable groups, including a 25% increase in respiratory hospitalizations among indigenous people over 50. The document argues that these health crises are exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and limited healthcare access in remote regions, calling for a moratorium on deforestation-related fires and improved air quality monitoring.

The document examines the health consequences of biomass burning in the Brazilian Amazon, highlighting the vulnerability of children, the elderly, and Indigenous populations. It notes that air quality standards in Brazil are less stringent than WHO guidelines and that monitoring systems have not been widely implemented. The brief links these fires to land clearing for agriculture and ranching, which contributes to climate change. It recommends a moratorium on deforestation, improved public health advisories, and international cooperation to meet Paris Agreement goals.

The report examines the critical health crisis in the Brazilian Amazon caused by intentional forest fires used for agricultural land clearing. It highlights that smoke-related pollution frequently exceeds WHO safety guidelines, leading to increased hospitalizations for respiratory and cardiovascular issues. Indigenous populations are identified as particularly vulnerable due to pre-existing health conditions and limited access to healthcare, with a noted synergy between air pollution and COVID-19 severity. The document calls for an urgent suspension of deforestation and the implementation of stricter air quality monitoring and public health warnings.

The document details how the Bolsonaro administration has systematically weakened Brazil's environmental state through institutional budget cuts, the exclusion of civil society from policy-making bodies like CONAMA, and the use of infra-legal decrees to bypass congressional scrutiny. It argues that these actions are driven by a coalition of agribusiness and mining interests seeking to expand into biomes such as the Amazon, Pantanal, and Cerrado. The authors highlight the fragility of environmental protections that rely on administrative decisions rather than legislative law and call for the establishment of more resilient protective mechanisms to prevent future reactionary attacks.

The document outlines eight key demands from Reclaim Finance and Les Amis de la Terre France addressed to BNP Paribas. It calls for the bank to strictly apply its coal exit policy, cease all support for hydrocarbon development, exit high-risk sectors like the Arctic and unconventional oil and gas by 2030, and vote against Total's climate strategy. Additionally, it urges the bank to withdraw from gas projects in Mozambique, strengthen exclusions on soy-related deforestation in the Cerrado, and formalize a policy to end support for oil drilling in the Amazon.

The document consists of formal inquiries directed at Natixis regarding its climate and environmental policies. The authors challenge the bank's delayed implementation of coal exclusions, its continued support for fossil fuel expansion, and its involvement in high-risk sectors such as Arctic drilling, shale gas, and Amazonian oil extraction. It specifically calls for the bank to oppose Total's climate strategy and cease financing for projects like EACOP and Tilenga, as well as gas developments in Mozambique. Additionally, it demands a 'zero deforestation' policy for imported soy and a detailed plan to end support for oil drilling in the Amazon.