The role of pasture and soybean in deforestation of the Brazilian amazon

The dynamics of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon are complex. A growing debate considers the extent to which deforestation is a result of the expansion of the Brazilian soy industry. Most recent analyses suggest that deforestation is driven by the expansion of cattle ranching, rather than soy....

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Detalles Bibliográficos
Autores principales: Barona, Elizabeth, Ramankutty, N, Hyman, Glenn G., Coomes, O.T.
Formato: Journal Article
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: IOP Publishing 2010
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44179
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author Barona, Elizabeth
Ramankutty, N
Hyman, Glenn G.
Coomes, O.T.
author_browse Barona, Elizabeth
Coomes, O.T.
Hyman, Glenn G.
Ramankutty, N
author_facet Barona, Elizabeth
Ramankutty, N
Hyman, Glenn G.
Coomes, O.T.
author_sort Barona, Elizabeth
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description The dynamics of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon are complex. A growing debate considers the extent to which deforestation is a result of the expansion of the Brazilian soy industry. Most recent analyses suggest that deforestation is driven by the expansion of cattle ranching, rather than soy. Soy seems to be replacing previously deforested land and/or land previously under pasture. In this study, we use municipality-level statistics on agricultural and deforested areas across the Legal Amazon from 2000 to 2006 to examine the spatial patterns and statistical relationships between deforestation and changes in pasture and soybean areas. Our results support previous studies that showed that deforestation is predominantly a result of pasture expansion. However, we also find support for the hypothesis that an increase of soy in Mato Grosso has displaced pasture further north, leading to deforestation elsewhere. Although not conclusive, our findings suggest that the debate surrounding the drivers of Amazon deforestation is not over, and that indirect causal links between soy and deforestation may exist that need further exploration. Future research should examine more closely how interlinkages between land area, prices, and policies influence the relationship between soy and deforestation, in order to make a conclusive case for 'displacement deforestation'.
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spelling CGSpace441792024-06-26T10:18:13Z The role of pasture and soybean in deforestation of the Brazilian amazon Barona, Elizabeth Ramankutty, N Hyman, Glenn G. Coomes, O.T. pastures soybeans deforestation pastizales soja deforestación The dynamics of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon are complex. A growing debate considers the extent to which deforestation is a result of the expansion of the Brazilian soy industry. Most recent analyses suggest that deforestation is driven by the expansion of cattle ranching, rather than soy. Soy seems to be replacing previously deforested land and/or land previously under pasture. In this study, we use municipality-level statistics on agricultural and deforested areas across the Legal Amazon from 2000 to 2006 to examine the spatial patterns and statistical relationships between deforestation and changes in pasture and soybean areas. Our results support previous studies that showed that deforestation is predominantly a result of pasture expansion. However, we also find support for the hypothesis that an increase of soy in Mato Grosso has displaced pasture further north, leading to deforestation elsewhere. Although not conclusive, our findings suggest that the debate surrounding the drivers of Amazon deforestation is not over, and that indirect causal links between soy and deforestation may exist that need further exploration. Future research should examine more closely how interlinkages between land area, prices, and policies influence the relationship between soy and deforestation, in order to make a conclusive case for 'displacement deforestation'. 2010-04 2014-10-02T08:33:23Z 2014-10-02T08:33:23Z Journal Article https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44179 en Open Access IOP Publishing
spellingShingle pastures
soybeans
deforestation
pastizales
soja
deforestación
Barona, Elizabeth
Ramankutty, N
Hyman, Glenn G.
Coomes, O.T.
The role of pasture and soybean in deforestation of the Brazilian amazon
title The role of pasture and soybean in deforestation of the Brazilian amazon
title_full The role of pasture and soybean in deforestation of the Brazilian amazon
title_fullStr The role of pasture and soybean in deforestation of the Brazilian amazon
title_full_unstemmed The role of pasture and soybean in deforestation of the Brazilian amazon
title_short The role of pasture and soybean in deforestation of the Brazilian amazon
title_sort role of pasture and soybean in deforestation of the brazilian amazon
topic pastures
soybeans
deforestation
pastizales
soja
deforestación
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/44179
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