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This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes the relationship between forest degradation and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2017 to 2020 using data from the DETER and PRODES monitoring systems. The study finds that while direct local conversion from degradation to deforestation is low, there is a strong spatial association, with a significant portion of deforestation occurring in the immediate vicinity of previously degraded areas, particularly in medium or large private properties, rural settlements, and undesignated areas.

This report analyzes the link between forest fires and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon (2013-2020). It finds that while only 11% of fire-affected forest is directly converted to clear-cut deforestation within three years, fire is a strong indicator of regional risk, with high rates of nearby deforestation. This association is particularly strong in rural settlements and public land holdings, suggesting fire's role in land grabbing. Regional disparities exist, with significant intensification of this pattern in states like Acre and Pará.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the relationship between forest degradation and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon from 2017 to 2020 using data from INPE's DETER and PRODES systems. It finds that while direct local conversion from degradation to deforestation is low, a significant portion of deforestation occurs in the vicinity of previously degraded areas, suggesting that degradation can serve as a regional risk indicator for future forest loss.

This technical note by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes a legislative report by Senator Carlos Fávaro regarding Bill (PL) nº 510/2021, which proposes changes to the legal framework for land regularization in Brazil. The authors argue that the report favors medium and large land occupants while offering no benefits to small farmers, potentially incentivizing illegal deforestation and land grabbing (grilagem).

The Climate Action Handbook is a guide published by Natural Justice in December 2021 designed to help communities in South Africa build climate resilience through legal empowerment. It provides educational material on the causes and impacts of climate change, outlines the legal framework of South Africa, and offers a ten-step practical toolkit for communities to advocate for their rights and hold governments and corporations accountable.

This report analyzes the role of Brazil's Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) in the prior oversight of federal railway and highway concessions under the Investment Partnership Program (PPI). It examines how the TCU manages socio-environmental risks and the impact of its timing in the project life cycle, specifically regarding the approval of Technical, Economical and Environmental Feasibility Studies (EVTEA).

Friends of the Earth International criticizes the COP26 pledge to halt deforestation as a rebranding of flawed initiatives that allow corporations and polluting nations to offset emissions rather than reduce them, warning that it risks facilitating land grabbing and human rights violations.

Friends of the Earth International criticizes the COP26 commitment to end deforestation, characterizing it as a superficial effort that allows major polluters to continue emitting carbon through carbon offsets and market-based mechanisms rather than implementing regulatory action and protecting indigenous rights.

Friends of the Earth International criticizes the COP26 pledge to end deforestation, arguing it serves as a facade for continued fossil fuel use and carbon emissions through offsetting mechanisms. The organization warns that the pledge lacks regulatory teeth and risks repeating the failures of REDD+, potentially leading to land grabbing and human rights violations.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the role of the Brazilian Federal Court of Accounts (TCU) in the prior control of socio-environmental risks for federal railway and highway concessions. It argues that the TCU has become the primary, albeit late, instance for approving Technical, Economic, and Environmental Viability Studies (EVTEA), often filling a governance gap left by the Executive branch. The document examines specific cases to illustrate how the TCU manages environmental liabilities and the risks associated with the 'Manifestation of Interest' (PMI) procurement model.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative evaluates the effectiveness of public policies used to combat deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, consolidating academic evidence to propose a strengthened policy framework for forest protection and sustainable development.

This report finds that deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon is primarily driven by land grabbing rather than meat demand. Unlike other regions of Brazil where cattle growth increases land prices, in the Amazon, cattle expansion is associated with falling land prices and increased pasture degradation, reflecting an extensive, low-productivity business model fueled by the illegal occupation of public lands.

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative/PUC-Rio uses an atmospheric transport model to analyze how deforestation in the Amazon, specifically within the Xingu River Basin, impacts rainfall in the state of Mato Grosso. The study demonstrates that forest areas are critical for maintaining air humidity and that their removal leads to a measurable decrease in precipitation, affecting agriculture, energy production, and urban water supplies.

This report by the World Resources Institute outlines the critical role of Indigenous Peoples and Local Communities (IPLCs) and community lands in climate change mitigation. It argues that while community lands cover approximately half of the world's land and provide immense ecosystem services and carbon sequestration, they are often legally unrecognized and underfunded. The document provides evidence that secure land tenure leads to lower deforestation rates and proposes six strategic steps to better integrate community land management into global climate action.

The Amazônia Sustainable Supply Chains (AMSSC) Mechanism is a blended finance instrument designed to scale the bioeconomy in the Brazilian Amazon. Proposed by Natura and Mauá Capital, it combines a receivables fund to provide upfront financing to smallholder cooperatives with an Enabling Conditions Facility (ECF) that provides technical assistance and community infrastructure investments. The mechanism aims to reduce deforestation pressure by strengthening value chains for non-timber, forest-compatible products.

This briefing by Zero Carbon Analytics prepares readers for the release of the IPCC's 6th Assessment Report (AR6) 'The Physical Science Basis'. It outlines major climate science developments since the 5th Assessment Report (AR5), focusing on human attribution of extreme weather, updated carbon budgets, refined climate sensitivity models, the role of non-CO2 greenhouse gases, and the complexities of net-zero and carbon dioxide removal.

This technical note by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes Bill (PL) No. 1709/2019, which proposes to reduce the width of Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs) along watercourses across Brazil. The authors warn that the bill's substitute text would halve the required protection widths, potentially enabling the deforestation of over 2 million hectares of native forest in the Amazon.

This executive summary analyzes the impact of Decree No. 9,760/2019 on the administrative enforcement procedures of IBAMA, Brazil's federal environmental agency. It argues that changes to the sanctioning process, combined with a shift toward military-led operations and the dismissal of technical staff, have weakened the state's ability to combat illegal deforestation and fires in the Amazon.

This report evaluates the new administrative sanctioning procedure of Ibama, highlighting how the introduction of environmental conciliation and centralized governance has been undermined by poor implementation, political interference, and the appointment of unqualified personnel. The authors argue that these failures, combined with a general weakening of environmental governance under the Bolsonaro administration, have contributed to an increase in illegal deforestation in the Amazon.

This research paper by the Climate Policy Initiative (CPI/PUC-Rio) analyzes the 2021 New Bidding Law in Brazil, arguing that it provides a critical opportunity to improve the planning of infrastructure projects. The authors propose the introduction of a pre-feasibility analysis to better anticipate socio-environmental risks and prevent the implementation of low-quality or infeasible projects.