REDD+ and the Agricultural Drives of Deforestation Keyfindings from Three Studies in Brazil, Ghana and Indonesia
I N T E R N AT I O N A L S U S TA I N A B I L I T Y U N I T
REDD+ AND THE
A G R I C U LT U R A L D R I V E R S
O F D E F O R E S TA T I O N
Key findings from
three studies in
Brazil, Ghana and
Indonesia
JULY 2012
1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In order to ensure global food security and avert dangerous climate change, the world faces the pressing dual
challenge of both protecting its remaining rainforests and enhancing food production in sustainable and resilient
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livelihoods of forest peoples; protecting the biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by forests; and reducing
rural poverty.
.,&"04&G-"0"&.0&^*96("6#&"04&V56.,&XOTX%&&30&6".0+36*$2;&2-*&cerrado&L$"/"00"-B&"04&2-*&d"02"0",&!*2,"04$%&g*2!**0&TaaZ&"04&XOON;&
39% of deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest took place in Mato GrossoTYB, with the state losing 39% of its original
forest and 42% of the cerrado to agriculture. Deforestation in Mato Grosso then declined by 85% in the ensuing
six yearsTNB, increasing again in 2011, due to a large number of clearings for soya plantations in the north centre of
the state.
Since 1990, soya production in Mato Grosso has grown by 9.5% per annum, equating to 7% of global production.
In 2010, Mato Grosso’s livestock herd occupied approximately 25.8 million hectares, with an average pasture
stocking of 1.1 head per hectare. According to IMEA, the state’s cattle herd is set to grow at 2% per annum, leading
to 35 million heads of cattle by 2020.
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target to curb deforestation in its forest area by 89% by 2020 compared to 1996 – 2005. It is also a member of
2-*&G3/*6036$@&\,.7"2*&"04&^36*$2$&6)3"#)?/)F0#"33)!+??&':)+4)@+-"+)
;0-.'"-:6)G&.1):$**+-.)4-+7)=?-0107)B044+")4-+7);-+J+-":.)
REDD+ AND THE
A G R I C U LT U R A L D R I V E R S
O F D E F O R E S TA T I O N
Key findings from
three studies in
Brazil, Ghana and
Indonesia
JULY 2012
1
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In order to ensure global food security and avert dangerous climate change, the world faces the pressing dual
challenge of both protecting its remaining rainforests and enhancing food production in sustainable and resilient
!"#$%&'())*$$+(,,#&")-.*/.01&2-.$&!3(,4&563/.4*&7(,2.5,*&)389*0*:2$;&.0),(4.01&$"+*1("64.01&2-*&!*,,89*.01&"04&
livelihoods of forest peoples; protecting the biodiversity and ecosystem services provided by forests; and reducing
rural poverty.
.,&"04&G-"0"&.0&^*96("6#&"04&V56.,&XOTX%&&30&6".0+36*$2;&2-*&cerrado&L$"/"00"-B&"04&2-*&d"02"0",&!*2,"04$%&g*2!**0&TaaZ&"04&XOON;&
39% of deforestation in the Amazon Rainforest took place in Mato GrossoTYB, with the state losing 39% of its original
forest and 42% of the cerrado to agriculture. Deforestation in Mato Grosso then declined by 85% in the ensuing
six yearsTNB, increasing again in 2011, due to a large number of clearings for soya plantations in the north centre of
the state.
Since 1990, soya production in Mato Grosso has grown by 9.5% per annum, equating to 7% of global production.
In 2010, Mato Grosso’s livestock herd occupied approximately 25.8 million hectares, with an average pasture
stocking of 1.1 head per hectare. According to IMEA, the state’s cattle herd is set to grow at 2% per annum, leading
to 35 million heads of cattle by 2020.
_0& HIJJK;& F"23& G63$$3& .$& .0& 2-*& 563)*$$& 3+& 5"$$.01& .2$& $2"2*& ,*1.$,"2.30& 30& "/3.4*4& 4*+36*$2"2.30;& "4352.01& "&
target to curb deforestation in its forest area by 89% by 2020 compared to 1996 – 2005. It is also a member of
2-*&G3/*6036$@&\,.7"2*&"04&^36*$2$&6)3"#)?/)F0#"33)!+??&':)+4)@+-"+)
;0-.'"-:6)G&.1):$**+-.)4-+7)=?-0107)B044+")4-+7);-+J+-":.)