management strategies to deter illegal deforestation

• Management strategies to deter illegal deforestation: IMABA


  IMABA – Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources was established as an environmental law enforcement agency. In 1990s, Forest Code was updated so that rural properties must preserve native vegetation on 80% of their land. Environmental Crime Act gave power for IMABA to issue fines to illegal settlers in the rainforests. Even though the government rarely succeeded in collecting the fines, this prevented the illegal settlers from obtaining loans from banks. Deforestation fell by 84% between 2004-2012.
• limitations of IMABA - not very effective, lack of power ti enforce fine is undermined by president
• Limitations of IMABA


  • Change in government policy weakening the enforcement power of IMABA 2019-2022
  • President Bolsonaro ran the election on the platform of turning the Amazon into Brazil's 'economic soul', giving free rein to agribusiness giants, mining corporations, developers
  • He was against designating indigenous land as protected
  • He weakened environmental protections & indigenous land rights, approving 24% cut to 2021 environmental budget
  • Due to lack of funding, only 3% of environmental crimes in protected areas were investigated fully by IMABA in the State of Para
• A new government body was created to pardon environmental fines
• Illegal occupation of indigenous land (hence deforestation) reached over 300 cases in 2021
• 2006 soy moratorium


  TNCs agreed not to purchase soy farmed on illegally deforested land

  cleared after 2006 e.g. McDonald’s. Deforestation fell by 84% between 2004-2012.