Deforestation drops 77.2% in Pantanal, 57.2% in Cerrado between August-November 2024

The deforestation rate in the Pantanal decreased by 77.2% between August and November 2024, compared with the same period in 2023. In the Cerrado, the reduction was 57.2%. Data from Brazil's National Institute for Space Research (INPE)'s Real-Time Deforestation Detection System (DETER) were publicized this Wednesday, December 18, during the 4th Ordinary Meeting of the Permanent Interministerial Commission for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation.

When we look at what is happening in the Cerrado, where we reduced deforestation for nine consecutive months, we can show that the deforestation prevention and control plans work, and do so proficiently”

Marina Silva, Brazil’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change

The annual comparison prepared by PRODES/INPE also shows a reduction in deforestation in the Amazon. The rate of 6,288 km² registered between August 2023 and July 2024 represents a 30.6% drop compared to the previous period (August 2022 to July 2023) and 45.7% compared to the interval between August 2021 and July 2022. The deforestation level in 2024 is the lowest recorded in the past nine years. The Cerrado biome saw a 25.7% reduction between 2023 and 2024.

Brazil’s Minister of the Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, highlighted the importance of the plans elaborated and implemented by the Government. “When we look at what is happening in the Cerrado, where we reduced deforestation for nine consecutive months, we can show that the deforestation prevention and control plans work, and do so proficiently”, she stated.

ACTION PLANS — During the Wednesday meeting, the Federal Government launched the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation and Fires in the Caatinga (PPCaatinga) and the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation and Fires in the Pantanal (PPPantanal).

“This effort is key to reach our goals. This work is essential for us to meet our targets. When one hectare of forest is cut down and burned, it emits 300 tons of carbon. So one of the most important sectors for reducing greenhouse gas emissions is combating deforestation”, said the Vice President of the Republic, Geraldo Alckmin, recalling the country has an agenda to counter deforestation, which the Federal Government implements in partnership with state governments.

Miriam Belchior, Executive Secretary at the Office of the Chief of Staff, spoke about the Government’s dedication to implementing the Deforestation Prevention and Control Plans, one of President Lula’s commitments. “The government is unequivocally committed to reducing deforestation in Brazil. This collective effort has yielded the expected results, and it is this progress that is driving us toward meeting our targets for 2025”, she stated, stressing the importance of all the technicians from the teams engaged in the efforts.

The Caatinga and Pantanal plans complement those already in place for the Amazon (PPCDAm) and the Cerrado (PPCerrado), now covering four biomes. The plans for the Atlantic Forest and the Pampa will be launched in the first half of February, following public consultations.

PPPANTANAL — The PPPantanal presents a robust structure with 13 strategic objectives, 32 expected results, 54 lines of action, and 159 goals. The initiatives include:

• Strengthening cooperation among the Federal Government, states, and municipalities;
• Implementing the Integrated Fire Management Policy (Política de Manejo Integrado do Fogo/ PMIF);
• Creating legal instruments to regulate vegetation suppression;
• Promoting sustainable practices in agriculture and livestock;
• Promoting tourism and extractive activities;
• Integrating data from the Rural Environmental Registry System (Sistema de Cadastro Ambiental Rural/ CAR) and the system that authorizes native vegetation suppression (Autorização para Supressão da Vegetação Nativa/ ASV);
• Planning initiatives to generate sustainable energy;
• Structuring a fund to finance actions in the Pantanal.

PPCAATINGA — The PPCaatinga includes 13 strategic objectives, 32 expected results, 49 lines of action, and 120 goals. Among its priorities are:

• Advancing land and environmental regularization;
• Promoting sustainable practices in agriculture;
• Recognizing territories belonging to Traditional Peoples and Communities (Povos e Comunidades Tradicionais/ PCT);
• Strengthening lines of credit for small-scale producers;
• Structuring a fund to promote actions in the biome;
• Planning energy initiatives;
• Integrating data from the Rural Environmental Registry System (Sistema de Cadastro Ambiental Rural/ CAR) and the system that authorizes native vegetation suppression (Autorização para Supressão da Vegetação Nativa/ ASV).

INITIATIVES BY THE FEDERAL GOVERNMENT — The Federal Government has been intensifying actions to combat deforestation in all Brazilian biomes. The initiatives combine command-and-control strategies, such as enforcement and satellite monitoring, with the promotion of sustainable activities and territorial planning. The central goal is to drastically reduce deforestation, promote an economic development model that values standing forests, and achieve zero deforestation in Brazil by 2030.

To increase the efficiency of efforts to combat environmental crimes, the government has been strengthening the integration among enforcement and control agencies, such as the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), the National Force, and the Federal Police. Joint actions, the use of advanced technology such as drones and satellites, and intelligence information sharing have been leading to more prompt and effective responses against illegal deforestation, mining, and other criminal activities that threaten Brazilian forests.

Among the preservation efforts, the Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation in the Legal Amazon (PPCDAm) stands out. This plan coordinates the efforts of various government agencies across four main areas: environmental monitoring and control, land and territorial management, promoting sustainable productive activities, and economic and regulatory instruments. Currently in its fifth phase, PPCDAm aims to enhance its strategies based on accumulated experience and achieved results, adapting to new challenges and employing advanced technologies for monitoring and enforcement.

In addition to the PPCDAm, the Federal Government also counts on the Amazon Fund, an important financing mechanism for conservation and sustainable development projects in the region. The Fund receives international donations and directs resources to initiatives aligned with the PPCDAm guidelines, such as land regularization projects, support to traditional communities, and development of economic activities that do not promote deforestation. In parallel, the National Strategy for REDD+ aims to implement compensation mechanisms for environmental services, promoting the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions coming from deforestation and forest degradation.

The Federal Government has also been investing in promoting the bioeconomy as a sustainable economic alternative for forest regions. The bioeconomy encompasses activities that use biological resources with innovation and sustainability, generating products and services with high aggregated value from the Brazilian biodiversity. This approach seeks to balance forest conservation and economic development, offering income alternatives for local communities and incentivizing the preservation of the standing forest. The goal is to ensure the preservation of biomes and biodiversity, as well as the ecosystemic services they provide, contributing to the efforts to combat climate change and to the country’s sustainable development.

In addition to Geraldo Alckmin and Marina Silva, also in attendance at the 4th Ordinary Meeting of the Permanent Interministerial Commission for the Prevention and Control of Deforestation were Ministers Luciana Santos (Science, Technology, and Innovation), Sônia Guajajara (Indigenous Peoples) and Waldez Góes (Regional Integration and Development).

The Commission is composed of the following ministries: Office of the Chief of Staff of the Presidency of the Republic (presiding); Environment and Climate Change; Agriculture and Livestock; Science, Technology, and Innovation; Justice and Public Security; Regional Integration and Development; Foreign Affairs; Defence; Finance; Planning and Budget; Mines and Energy; Agrarian Development and Family Farming; Fisheries and Aquaculture; Institutional Security Office of the Presidency of the Republic; Labor and Employment; Development, Industry, Trade, and Services; Management and Innovation in Public Services; Transportations; and Indigenous Peoples.