From eco-catastrophe to zero deforestation? Interdisciplinarities, politics, environmentalisms and reduced clearing in Amazonia

Abstract

SUMMARYBrazil's rate of deforestation has declined by more than 70% since 2004, a dynamic unimaginable even a decade ago. Even the worst drought in more than 100 years (2010) produced a flat clearing profile from 2009-2010, an unexpected result, since dry periods usually have clearing spikes. While deforestation continues throughout the tropics (and Amazonia), and the recent change in Brazil's Forest Code has produced a modest increase in deforestation, there are significant processes that are slowing clearing and fostering woodland recovery. This paper outlines the multiplicities and interdisciplinarities of political ecologies, policies, politics scientific approaches and technologies that have moderated forest conversion and shaped Amazonia's unusual, and unusually effective development and conservation conjunctures in Brazil's post-authoritarian period. New institutional framings, ideologies, political decentralization, globalizations and an expanded arena for new social movements and civil society provided the context for this transformation. Changing environmental institutions, discourses and the relatively redistributive social pact that underpinned President Ignacio (Lula) da Silva's administration had a significant role in promoting more resilient land uses, monitoring, compliance and new markets, while regional social movements and national and international commodity boycotts affected more damaging ones. Finally, other forms of payment for environmental services, such as REDD (Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and forest Degradation) and REDD+ are changing the value of standing forests. This paper describes how complex interdisciplinarities shaped the politics, policies and practices that slowed forest clearing. However, Amazonia's politics are extremely dynamic: destabilizing processes, violence and indifferent national leadership could still reverse this remarkable turnaround.

A social and ecological assessment of tropical land uses at multiple scales: the Sustainable Amazon Network

“…Rapid social and ecological change has left the future of the Amazon region uncertain [11][12][13]. In the Brazilian Amazon, in particular, recent reductions in the rate of deforestation, expansion of protected areas, increased market-based demand for more responsible landuse practices, and a strengthening of local and regional governments and civil society organizations provide some cause for guarded optimism that the Amazon economy can be set on a sustainable footing [14][15][16]. However, we need to ensure the right choices are made as soon as possible, thereby reducing the likelihood of costly or potentially irreversible damage to both social and ecological systems in the region [12,17].…”

Addressing Tipping Points for a Precarious Future

“…On a more positive note the editors also urged us all to think about the possibility of positive transformational tipping points where societal responses can turn-around trajectories of degradation and maladaptation to build institutions that are capable of restoring and maintaining sustainable social-ecological systems. It is reassuring to observe that, while far from dominant or secure, elements of this potential for transformation are emerging across the Amazon in the form of declining deforestation rates, changing land use practices, and the emergence of a critical mass of individuals and institutions committed to demonstrating the potential for positive change (Hecht 2011). Building upon and consolidating these changes ultimately requires adaptability in the responses of decision makers at all levels of governance, and the support of a solution-orientated and interactive scientific community.…”

Menganalisis REDD+: Sejumlah tantangan dan pilihan

“…Beberapa faktor menjelaskan kecenderungan ini, termasuk meningkatnya penegakan hukum-hukum lingkungan, fluktuasi harga-harga komoditas pertanian, implementasi inisiatif-inisiatif swasta untuk mengurangi deforestasi (misalnya, moratorium di Mato Grosso dan sebuah larangan oleh pasar-pasar swalayan di Brasil bagian selatan untuk menjual daging sapi yang berasal dari lahan yang dibuka secara ilegal) dan berbagai tekanan dari pergerakan sosial (Hecht 2012). Penegakan hukum lingkungan yang lebih ketat di Brasil sepanjang tahun 2005 dan 2009 seharusnya dapat melindungi lebih dari setengah kawasan hutan yang jika tidak akan dibuka (Assunção dan Gandour 2012).…”