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A Global Witness investigation reveals that JBS, Marfrig, and Minerva purchased cattle from 379 ranches in Pará state between 2017 and 2019 that contained illegal deforestation, totaling over 20,000 football fields of cleared land. The report argues that these companies greenwash their operations through deficient audits by DNV-GL and Grant Thornton, which claimed compliance with no-deforestation pledges despite evidence to the contrary. Furthermore, the document highlights the role of international financial institutions, including Deutsche Bank, Santander, and HSBC, in providing billions in loans and investments to these firms. It also documents links between the beef supply chain and human rights abuses, including land-grabbing and violence against indigenous and landless peoples in areas like Apyterewa. The report concludes that voluntary private sector policies have failed and calls for mandatory due diligence laws in the UK and EU to prevent complicity in Amazon destruction.

The report assesses gender inequalities in Brazil, specifically within the context of forest conservation and REDD+ implementation. It identifies significant gaps in women's political representation, land ownership, and decision-making power in forest management, despite advances in education and health. The document recommends a gender-responsive Environmental and Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), the establishment of quotas for the Floresta+ Pilot Program, and the hiring of a gender specialist to ensure equitable benefit-sharing and participation in climate funding activities.

The Climate Smart Cattle Ranching (CSCR) initiative proposes a 'New Company' to address barriers to sustainable beef production in Brazil, specifically targeting mid-sized ranchers in the Amazon who lack formal land titles. The model uses a blended finance approach—initially through a Participations Investment Fund (FIP) involving grants, concessional debt, and impact equity—to co-invest in pasture restoration and the adoption of Embrapa’s Good Agricultural Practices (GAP). By providing long-term capital (up to 10 years) and continuous technical assistance, the instrument aims to increase productivity from 0.5-0.7 to up to 4 Animal Units per hectare, potentially reducing emissions intensity by 90-95% per kg of beef. The strategy includes a phase-out of concessional capital in favor of commercial investment via a Credits’ Rights Investment Fund (FIDC) once a track record of receivables from deforestation-free beef off-take agreements is established.

The document analyzes the slowdown of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon, noting that while overall rates dropped by 83% from 2004 to 2012, progress has stalled. It argues that previous command-and-control measures were more effective for large landowners than for smallholders or those in remote areas. The brief recommends shifting toward incentive-based policies, adopting higher-resolution monitoring technology, and tailoring interventions to specific actor types to achieve Brazil's 2020 deforestation goals.

The document analyzes the effectiveness of Brazil's anti-deforestation policies in the Amazon, noting that while an 83% reduction in annual deforestation was achieved between 2004 and 2012, progress has since stagnated. It argues that previous 'command and control' measures primarily targeted large landowners and critical frontiers, leaving smallholders and remote areas less addressed. The authors recommend shifting toward incentive-based policies for small farmers, adopting high-resolution radar monitoring to detect smaller clearings, and focusing on forest degradation rather than just total forest cover.

Anglo American used the Corporate Ecosystem Services Review (ESR) for its greenfield Jacaré nickel project in São Félix do Xingú, Pará. The process identified critical dependencies on the São Sebastião River for water and the potential for replacing coal with wood biomass for energy. Key risks include water scarcity driven by climate change and regional economic growth, as well as legal uncertainties regarding land tenure for reforestation. Opportunities include reducing operational costs and carbon footprints through biomass, and improving community relations by investing in local sanitation and reforestation.

Walmart Brasil used the five-step Corporate Ecosystem Services Review (ESR) to mitigate risks in its beef supply chain in the Amazon. The assessment identified critical dependencies on soil quality, water purification, climate stability, and freshwater provision. In São Félix do Xingu, the company found that deforestation—driven by poor pasture management and infrastructure-led demand—threatens these services. To meet its 2015 goal of zero-deforestation beef, Walmart Brasil is exploring strategies including a dedicated 'zero-deforestation' brand, investment in monitoring tools for land tenure and the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR), and collaborations with partners like The Nature Conservancy to promote sustainable intensification of cattle ranching.