Amazon DeforestationAmazon Deforestation

The Amazon RegionThe Amazon Region

Concern about Amazon Concern about Amazon DeforestationDeforestation

Loss of biodiversityLoss of biodiversity Impact on climateImpact on climate

– Moderating impact on climateModerating impact on climate– Carbon sinkCarbon sink– Global forest destruction by burning Global forest destruction by burning

second largest contribution to GHG second largest contribution to GHG emission.emission.

Rights of indigenous populationsRights of indigenous populations

Causes of DeforestationCauses of Deforestation Cattle ranching: @ 70% of deforestation in BrazilCattle ranching: @ 70% of deforestation in Brazil Land tenure: Land tenure:

– 5% of landowners occupy 70% of arable land; 70% of 5% of landowners occupy 70% of arable land; 70% of small landowners occupy 5% of land;small landowners occupy 5% of land;

– In Amazon land granted to those who clear it;In Amazon land granted to those who clear it;– Cattle ranching subsidized;Cattle ranching subsidized;

Demand for cheap beef in international marketsDemand for cheap beef in international markets Servicing debt, tackling povertyServicing debt, tackling poverty LoggingLogging Mining of copper and other mineralsMining of copper and other minerals Oil exploration (Ecuador)Oil exploration (Ecuador) Palm, rubber, oil plantationsPalm, rubber, oil plantations Highway projects – Poloroneste project (Highway projects – Poloroneste project (BR-364 )BR-364 )

Weak International RegimesWeak International Regimes International Tropical Timber Agreement (1983; International Tropical Timber Agreement (1983;

1994)1994)– To regularize trade in tropical timberTo regularize trade in tropical timber– 1994 goal of producers of tropical timber to export only 1994 goal of producers of tropical timber to export only

sustainably harvested timber by 2000.sustainably harvested timber by 2000.– The Bali Partnership Fund to assist investment to meet the The Bali Partnership Fund to assist investment to meet the

sustainability objectivesustainability objective

Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1992)Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD, 1992)– Asserts states’ “sovereign rights over their own Asserts states’ “sovereign rights over their own

biodiversity”biodiversity”– Identification, monitoring and assessment of biodiversityIdentification, monitoring and assessment of biodiversity– Preparation of national plans, strategies, and programs Preparation of national plans, strategies, and programs

(voluntary approach to conservation and sustainable use)(voluntary approach to conservation and sustainable use)

Why Do We Have Weak Why Do We Have Weak Regimes Related to Tropical Regimes Related to Tropical Deforestation?Deforestation?

NGO ActionNGO Action

NGOs organize in transnational advocacy NGOs organize in transnational advocacy networks (glued by principles, values, networks (glued by principles, values, information, resources). “Principle information, resources). “Principle networks?”networks?”

Strategies: information; symbolic politics; Strategies: information; symbolic politics; leverage politics (links issue to money, leverage politics (links issue to money, goods, trade); accountability politicsgoods, trade); accountability politics

Boomerang StrategyBoomerang Strategy

If channels of influence blocked If channels of influence blocked domestically: NGOs bypass their domestically: NGOs bypass their government and ally across borders;government and ally across borders;

NGOs in North lobby governments, NGOs in North lobby governments, companies, IGOscompanies, IGOs

Governmental and monetary pressure on Governmental and monetary pressure on Condition for success: issues involving Condition for success: issues involving

bodily harm, legal inequality, symbolic bodily harm, legal inequality, symbolic resources; dense networks (legitimacy); resources; dense networks (legitimacy); vulnerability of target government; vulnerability of target government; availability of leverage.availability of leverage.

The Polonoroeste CampaignThe Polonoroeste Campaign

BR 364 BR 364

The Polonoroeste CampaignThe Polonoroeste Campaign

Main Actors:Main Actors:– Brazilian governmentBrazilian government– World BankWorld Bank– US Congress/Department of TreasuryUS Congress/Department of Treasury– US NGOsUS NGOs– Rubber Tapers (Chico Medes)Rubber Tapers (Chico Medes)– Indigenous PopulationIndigenous Population– Land owners/cattle ranchersLand owners/cattle ranchers– Rondonia state governmentRondonia state government

OutcomesOutcomes

World Bank: World Bank: – temporary suspends loan disbursement temporary suspends loan disbursement

for Poloronoeste; for Poloronoeste; – internal reform;internal reform;

PlanaforoPlanaforo– Institutionalize environmental protectionInstitutionalize environmental protection– Local NGO access to decision making Local NGO access to decision making

but little influencebut little influence Chico Mendes shotChico Mendes shot

Effective Campaign against Effective Campaign against Deforestation?Deforestation?

Yes: pressure on WB policies and Yes: pressure on WB policies and procedures; voice to local population; procedures; voice to local population; procedural access to decision making;procedural access to decision making;

No: did not address major imbalances No: did not address major imbalances (power between ranchers and indigenous (power between ranchers and indigenous groups, interests in exports of beef/timber; groups, interests in exports of beef/timber; land tenure, etc.)land tenure, etc.)

Annual Deforestation in the Annual Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon 1988-1996Brazilian Amazon 1988-1996

Deforestation Deforestation 2001-2002: 25,500 2001-2002: 25,500 square km (base square km (base on satellite data)on satellite data)

Source: WRI, World Resources 1998-1999, based on Brazilian Institute for Space Research (INPE)

Amazon Regional Protected Areas Amazon Regional Protected Areas (ARPA)(ARPA)

President Fernando Henrique Cardoso's: President Fernando Henrique Cardoso's: 1998 pledge to protect at least 10% of 1998 pledge to protect at least 10% of Brazil's Amazon forestsBrazil's Amazon forests

ARPA: Launched at Johannesburg Summit ARPA: Launched at Johannesburg Summit 20022002

Brazil-World Bank agreement signed April Brazil-World Bank agreement signed April 20032003

Partners:Partners:– Brazilian government: US$18.1m. Brazilian government: US$18.1m. – WWF-Brazil: US$11.5m WWF-Brazil: US$11.5m – WB and GEF: US$30m. Over 4 yearsWB and GEF: US$30m. Over 4 years

GETncm/justsayncust-recrate-itemcommunitytg/stores/dtg/stores/d-favorite-listtruejust-say-no

ARPA ScopeARPA Scope

Triple the amount of Amazon forest Triple the amount of Amazon forest under protection to 500,000 sq. km. under protection to 500,000 sq. km. Equivalent of 12% of total forest Equivalent of 12% of total forest

Includes sample of all 23 Amazonian Includes sample of all 23 Amazonian eco-regionseco-regions

Will include both ecological reserves Will include both ecological reserves and extractive reservesand extractive reserves

Design management plans, Design management plans, surveillance, researchsurveillance, research