Amazon Deforestation The Amazon Region Concern about Amazon

Amazon Deforestation

The Amazon Region

Concern about Amazon Deforestation Loss of biodiversity u Impact on climate u – Moderating impact on climate – Carbon sink – Global forest destruction by burning second largest contribution to GHG emission. u Rights of indigenous populations

Causes of Deforestation u u u u u Cattle ranching: @ 70% of deforestation in Brazil Land tenure: – 5% of landowners occupy 70% of arable land; 70% of small landowners occupy 5% of land; – In Amazon land granted to those who clear it; – Cattle ranching subsidized; Demand for cheap beef in international markets Servicing debt, tackling poverty Logging Mining of copper and other minerals Oil exploration (Ecuador) Palm, rubber, oil plantations Highway projects – Poloroneste project (BR-364 )

Weak International Regimes u International Tropical Timber Agreement (1983; 1994) – To regularize trade in tropical timber – 1994 goal of producers of tropical timber to export only sustainably harvested timber by 2000. – The Bali Partnership Fund to assist investment to meet the sustainability objective u Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1992) – Asserts states’ “sovereign rights over their own biodiversity” – Identification, monitoring and assessment of biodiversity – Preparation of national plans, strategies, and programs (voluntary approach to conservation and sustainable use)

Why Do We Have Weak Regimes Related to Tropical Deforestation?

NGO Action u u NGOs organize in transnational advocacy networks (glued by principles, values, information, resources). “Principle networks? ” Strategies: information; symbolic politics; leverage politics (links issue to money, goods, trade); accountability politics

Boomerang Strategy If channels of influence blocked domestically: NGOs bypass their government and ally across borders; u NGOs in North lobby governments, companies, IGOs u Governmental and monetary pressure on u Condition for success: issues involving bodily harm, legal inequality, symbolic resources; dense networks (legitimacy); vulnerability of target government; availability of leverage. u

The Polonoroeste Campaign

BR 364

The Polonoroeste Campaign u Main Actors: – Brazilian government – World Bank – US Congress/Department of Treasury – US NGOs – Rubber Tapers (Chico Medes) – Indigenous Population – Land owners/cattle ranchers – Rondonia state government

Outcomes u World Bank: – temporary suspends loan disbursement for Poloronoeste; – internal reform; u Planaforo – Institutionalize environmental protection – Local NGO access to decision making but little influence u Chico Mendes shot

Effective Campaign against Deforestation? u u Yes: pressure on WB policies and procedures; voice to local population; procedural access to decision making; No: did not address major imbalances (power between ranchers and indigenous groups, interests in exports of beef/timber; land tenure, etc. )

Annual Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon 1988 -1996 u Deforestation 2001 -2002: 25, 500 square km (base on satellite data) Source: WRI, World Resources 1998 -1999, based on Brazilian Institute for Space Research (INPE)

Amazon Regional Protected Areas (ARPA) President Fernando Henrique Cardoso's: 1998 pledge to protect at least 10% of Brazil's Amazon forests u ARPA: Launched at Johannesburg Summit 2002 u Brazil-World Bank agreement signed April 2003 u Partners: u – Brazilian government: US$18. 1 m. – WWF-Brazil: US$11. 5 m – WB and GEF: US$30 m. Over 4 years

ARPA Scope u Triple the amount of Amazon forest under protection to 500, 000 sq. km. Equivalent of 12% of total forest u Includes sample of all 23 Amazonian eco-regions u Will include both ecological reserves and extractive reserves u Design management plans, surveillance, research