Publication:
Causes of Deforestation of the Brazilian Amazon

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dc.contributor.authorMargulis, Sergio
dc.date.accessioned2013-08-14T16:51:09Z
dc.date.available2013-08-14T16:51:09Z
dc.date.issued2004
dc.description.abstractThe worldwide concern with deforestation of Brazilian Amazonia is motivated not only by the irreversible loss of this natural wealth, but also by the perception that it is a destructive process in which the social and economic gains are smaller than the environmental losses. This perception also underlies the diagnosis, formulation and evaluation of public policies proposed by government and non-governmental organizations working in the region, including the World Bank. The present work suggests that a fuller understanding is necessary with regard to the motivations and identity of the agents responsible for deforestation, the evaluation of the social and economic benefits from the process and the resulting implications of public policies for the region. The objective of the report is to show that, in contrast to the 1970s and 1980s when occupation of Brazilian Amazonia was largely induced by government policies and subsidies, recent deforestation in significant parts of the region is basically caused by medium- and large-scale cattle ranching. Following a private rationale, the dynamics of the occupation process gradually became autonomous, as is suggested by the significant increase in deforestation in the 1990s despite the substantial reduction of subsidies and incentives by government. Among the causes of the transformation are technological and managerial changes and the adaptation of cattle ranching to the geo-ecological conditions of eastern Amazonia which allowed for productivity gains and cost reductions. The fact that cattle ranching is viable from the private perspective does not mean that the activity is socially desirable or environmentally sustainable. Private gain needs to be contrasted with the environmental (social) costs associated with cattle ranching and deforestation. From the social perspective, it is legitimate to argue that the private benefits from large-scale cattle ranching are largely exclusive, having contributed little to alleviate social and economic inequalities. The study notes, however, that decreases in the price of beef in national markets and increases in exports caused by the expansion of cattle ranching in Eastern Amazonia may imply social benefits that go beyond sectoral and regional boundaries.en
dc.identifierhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2003/12/2875768/causes-deforestation-brazilian-amazon
dc.identifier.doi10.1596/0-8213-5691-7
dc.identifier.isbn0-8213-5691-7
dc.identifier.urihttps://hdl.handle.net/10986/15060
dc.languageEnglish
dc.language.isoen_US
dc.publisherWashington, DC: World Bank
dc.relation.ispartofseriesWorld Bank Working Paper;No. 22
dc.rightsCC BY 3.0 IGO
dc.rights.holderWorld Bank
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/igo
dc.subjectDEFORESTATION
dc.subjectLAND USE
dc.subjectCATTLE INDUSTRY
dc.subjectECONOMIC ASPECTS
dc.subjectSOCIAL ASPECTS
dc.subjectRANCHING
dc.subjectNET INCOME
dc.subjectINCENTIVES (TAX)
dc.subjectSUBSIDIES
dc.subjectPUBLIC POLICIES
dc.subjectNONGOVERNMENTAL ORGANIZATIONS
dc.subjectENVIRONMENTAL ISSUES
dc.subjectFOREST MANAGEMENT
dc.subjectPOLICY FORMULATION
dc.subjectTIMBER EXTRACTION
dc.subjectLIVESTOCK
dc.subjectSOYBEAN HARVESTING AGRICULTURE
dc.subjectANIMAL PRODUCTION
dc.subjectBEEF
dc.subjectBEEF CATTLE
dc.subjectBIODIVERSITY
dc.subjectBREEDING
dc.subjectCATTLE
dc.subjectCATTLE PRODUCTION
dc.subjectCGIAR
dc.subjectCGIAR CONSULTATIVE GROUP
dc.subjectCIFOR
dc.subjectCONSERVATION
dc.subjectCONSERVATION INITIATIVES
dc.subjectCONSULTATIVE GROUP ON INTERNATIONAL AGRICULTURAL RESEARCH
dc.subjectCOST BENEFIT ANALYSIS
dc.subjectCROPS
dc.subjectCULTIVATION
dc.subjectDEFORESTATION
dc.subjectDEFORESTATION RATES
dc.subjectECOLOGICAL CONDITIONS
dc.subjectECONOMIC ACTIVITY
dc.subjectECONOMIC STRATEGIES
dc.subjectENVIRONMENTAL AGENDA
dc.subjectENVIRONMENTAL ASPECTS
dc.subjectENVIRONMENTAL BENEFITS
dc.subjectENVIRONMENTAL COSTS
dc.subjectENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
dc.subjectENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH
dc.subjectENVIRONMENTAL VALUATION
dc.subjectEXTERNALITIES
dc.subjectFAO
dc.subjectFARMERS
dc.subjectFOREST
dc.subjectFOREST AREAS
dc.subjectFOREST CLEARING
dc.subjectFOREST CONVERSION
dc.subjectFOREST COVER
dc.subjectFOREST MANAGEMENT
dc.subjectFOREST PROTECTION
dc.subjectFOREST RESOURCES
dc.subjectIDENTITY
dc.subjectIDRC
dc.subjectIFPRI
dc.subjectINCOME
dc.subjectLAND TITLING
dc.subjectLAND USE
dc.subjectLIVESTOCK
dc.subjectLIVING STANDARDS
dc.subjectLOGGING
dc.subjectMICROECONOMICS
dc.subjectNATURAL RESOURCE
dc.subjectNATURAL RESOURCE BASE
dc.subjectNATURAL RESOURCES
dc.subjectOPPORTUNITY COSTS
dc.subjectPASTURES
dc.subjectPOLICY INSTRUMENTS
dc.subjectPOVERTY REDUCTION
dc.subjectPRECIPITATION
dc.subjectPRESENT VALUE
dc.subjectPRODUCERS
dc.subjectPRODUCTION COSTS
dc.subjectPRODUCTIVITY
dc.subjectPROPERTY RIGHTS
dc.subjectRAINFALL
dc.subjectRAINFORESTS
dc.subjectRANCHERS
dc.subjectRESOURCE USE
dc.subjectRURAL INCOME
dc.subjectSOCIAL COSTS
dc.subjectSPATIAL PATTERNS
dc.subjectSUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
dc.subjectSUSTAINABLE FOREST MANAGEMENT
dc.subjectSUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT
dc.subjectSUSTAINABLE MANAGEMENT OF FOREST
dc.subjectSUSTAINABLE USE
dc.subjectTIMBER
dc.subjectTIMBER EXTRACTION
dc.subjectTRADEOFFS
dc.subjectTRANSPORT COSTS
dc.subjectUNCTAD
dc.subjectUNITED NATIONS
dc.subjectURBANIZATION
dc.titleCauses of Deforestation of the Brazilian Amazonen
dc.title.alternativeCausas do desmatamento da Amazonia Brasileiraen
dspace.entity.typePublication
okr.doctypePublications & Research::Publication
okr.doctypePublications & Research::Publication
okr.docurlhttp://documents.worldbank.org/curated/en/2003/12/2875768/causes-deforestation-brazilian-amazon
okr.globalpracticeSocial, Urban, Rural and Resilience
okr.globalpracticeAgriculture
okr.globalpracticeAgriculture
okr.globalpracticeWater
okr.globalpracticeEnergy and Extractives
okr.guid758171468768828889
okr.guid867711468743950302
okr.identifier.doi10.1596/0-8213-5691-7
okr.identifier.externaldocumentum000090341_20040202130625
okr.identifier.internaldocumentum2875768
okr.identifier.report27715
okr.language.supporteden
okr.pdfurlhttp://www-wds.worldbank.org/external/default/WDSContentServer/WDSP/IB/2004/02/02/000090341_20040202130625/Rendered/PDF/277150PAPER0wbwp0no1022.pdfen
okr.region.administrativeLatin America and Caribbean
okr.region.countryBrazil
okr.topicEnergy::Energy and Environment
okr.topicAgriculture::Agricultural Research
okr.topicRural Development::Forestry
okr.topicEnvironmental Economics and Policies
okr.topicWater Resources::Drought Management
okr.unitOffice of the Vice President (SDNVP)
okr.volume1 of 1
relation.isSeriesOfPublication3e126efc-de2f-4a95-be5b-bd2e430a4843
relation.isSeriesOfPublication.latestForDiscovery3e126efc-de2f-4a95-be5b-bd2e430a4843
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