Deforestation Hotspots in the Brazilian Amazon: Evidence and Causes as Assessed from Remote Sensing and Census Data

Abstract

The main goal of this study, conducted in an area comprising 221 municipalities, in which 90% of the deforestation in the Legal Amazon takes place, was to understand the role of the agrarian structure in the conversion of forest into pasture and agriculture fields. Linear regression results indicate that 54%?62% of the variation in deforestation occurred between 1997 and 2004, respectively, and are explained as a function of changes in the amount of appropriated land in 1995. Likewise, up to 80% of the deforestation can be well explained by the variation in land concentration. In fact, strong spatial correlations were found between deforestation hotspots and land appropriation and land concentration. On the other hand, these critical areas have insufficient governance, particularly at the federal level. As the results of this study clearly demonstrate, strong governance and institutional integration, with emphasis on the territorial ordainment, are mandatory in order to reduce the rapid pace of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon.