Why Brasil needs to update its forest code

Today Brazil is one of the largest food producers in the world and has an agricultural model that preserves its enormous environmental heritage. Only 27% of the country's land is used for farming whereas 61% of the natural vegetation is preserved.

Statement by Representative Aldo Rebelo

Neither deforestation nor amnesty

By Representative Aldo Rebelo

Due to the misleading news concerning the new Forest Code, approved by the House of Representatives on the night of 5/24/11, it is necessary to provide clarification on the Amendments 186 and 164, which form the basis of the text.

The proposal for the new code – main changes

Owners who can prove that at the time of the area opening it was respected the legal reserve level under the law of the time, are exempted from the restoration or compensation of this land. That is, who respected the current law at that time, will have his or hers rights recognized.

Example: An area owner from Amazon who deforested before 2000, a period when the legal reserve was of 50%, will not be required to conform to the current index (80%). Still, who deforested a “Cerrado” area before 1989, when there was no obligation to maintain a legal reserve in this biome, is also under no obligation to conform to the current rule.

“In Brazil, the hand that produces is the same hand that protects the environment” Senator Kátia Abreu, President of CNA

Brazilian Biomes

Brazilian map with biomes division and indication
Source: Ministry of Environment, Agricultural Census, 2006 and IBGE

Amazon
Total area: 419,7 million hectares
Preserved area: 85%
Area occupied by farms: 16%

Pantanal
Total area: 15 million hectares
Preserved area: 86,7%
Area occupied by farms: 82,6%

Cerrado
Total area: 205,9 million hectares
Preserved area: 51,5%
Area occupied by farms: 59,5%

Caatinga
Total area: 84,4 million hectares
Preserved area: 63,6%
Area accupied by farms: 50%

Atlantic Forest
Total area: 111 million hectares
Preserved area: 27%
Area accupied by farms: 68%

Pampa
Total area: 17,7 million hectares
Preserved area: 41,3%
Area occupied by farms: 16%

Brazilian Territory Occupation

Represented proportion by icons for each type of occupation
Source: IBGE, FUNAI, INCRA, IBAMA and CNA

  • - Agriculture and Livestock - 38,8%
  • - Cities and infrastructure – 0,2%
  • - Other uses – 16,1%
  • - Forests – 61,5%, being:
    • APP RL Private Forests – 11,5%
    • Indian Lands – 12,6%
    • Conservation Unities – 14,4%
    • Vacant lands – 23%

Private farms area

Images related to the type of occupation
Source: IBGE
  • - Pastures – 48,1%
  • - Woods and/or forests – 28,5%
  • - Temporary and permanent farmings – 18,1%
  • - Water Mirrors, improvements, roads and useless lands – 3,9%
  • - Planted Forests – 1,4%

Occupation and Use of Brazilian Land


SOURCES: Sedra IBGE, Censo Agropecuario (table 264), MMA, INCRA

Preserved public areas - 50%
425,7*

Other purpuses - 11,3%
95,8*

Areas of agricultural and livestock production - 27,7%
236,0*

Preserved areas inside rural properties - 11%
94,0*

Preserved total - 61%
519.7 Hectares

* Areas in Hectares

Brazil has 61% of the total area of its biomes preserved (851.5.5 million acres). The areas for agricultural and livestock farms and ranches, including natural forests within these properties, correspond to 38.7% of its territory. The only requirement to increase agricultural and livestock production is to invest in technology and to consolidate the areas already used. There is no more need of deforestation.

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