The context of REDD+ in Brazil

Drivers, agents, and institutions

Center for International Forestry Research (CIFOR)Bogor, Indonesia

Deforestation in Brazil reflects a recent surge in commodity market demands and private sector profitability as well as public investment and manifest destiny to occupy and control frontiers. During the past two decades a number of measures have been undertaken to reduce deforestation, culminating in the adoption of quantitative targets (against a 10-year historical baseline) of 80% in the Amazon and 40% in the Cerrado by 2020. The development of a national REDD+ strategy – still in progress – is based on actions to achieve these targets. However, REDD+ policy implementation is fraught with conflict due to competing sectoral incentives, large infrastructure projects, high levels of corruption, among other countervailing factors. The Brazil Country Profile reviews the REDD+ policy environment with a focus on the Brazilian Amazon. Based on existing literature, national and international research, legal opinions and selected expert interviews, it provides the background and a preliminary analysis of the context in which national REDD+ strategies are being developed.