Science & Tech · Science & Environment · 3 hrs ago
Lower deforestation may have brought Brazil up to R$192 billion in benefits
A study estimates that lower deforestation since 2023 brought Brazil up to R$192 billion in benefits.
It compares deforestation in the Amazon and Cerrado from 2023 to 2026 with the faster pace recorded from 2019 to 2022.
About 22,300 square kilometres were spared from deforestation compared with what would have happened if the earlier rate had continued.
The study estimates the reduction avoided 1.49 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to global warming and climate change.
It puts the value of avoided climate damage at up to R$1.16 trillion worldwide, while its estimates for Brazil range from R$67 billion to R$192 billion.
These are estimated savings from reduced harm, including fewer crop losses and less heat stress on workers; the calculations do not include effects on regional rainfall and water supplies.
The study says those omitted benefits matter to farming, hydropower and cities, and the benefits from forest-driven rainfall continue as long as the forest remains standing.
A study estimates that lower deforestation in the Amazon and Cerrado since 2023 may have generated up to R$192 billion in benefits for Brazil’s economy.
The estimate values climate damage avoided by preventing greenhouse gas emissions.
The study estimates that 22,300 square kilometres were spared from deforestation between 2023 and 2026 compared with a scenario in which the earlier pace continued.
It calculates that the reduction avoided 1.49 billion tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions.
The study’s central estimate of global benefits is R$1.16 trillion, while its estimates for Brazil range from R$67 billion to R$192 billion.
- Who
- Economist Bráulio Borges, in a study published by the Brazilian Institute of Economics at Fundação Getulio Vargas.
- What
- The study estimates the economic benefits of reduced deforestation in the Amazon and Cerrado.
- When
- The comparison covers 2019–2022 and 2023–2026.
- Where
- Brazil’s Amazon and Cerrado biomes.
- Why
- Reduced deforestation avoided greenhouse gas emissions and related climate damage.
This story does not have two clearly opposing sides.
The study uses deforestation levels in the Amazon and Cerrado during this period as its baseline.
The study compares deforestation with the baseline and estimates that 22,300 square kilometres were spared.
Inpe data showed deforestation fell 41.8% in the Amazon and 23.8% in the Cerrado.
- Estimated benefit for Brazil
- R$67 billion to R$192 billion
- Estimated global benefit, central scenario
- R$1.16 trillion
- Deforestation avoided
- About 22,300 square kilometres
- Greenhouse gas emissions avoided
- 1.49 billion tonnes
- Amazon deforestation, August 2025–July 2026
- 3,335 square kilometres
- Cerrado deforestation, August 2025–July 2026
- 5,516.69 square kilometres
What people are saying
The reduction in deforestation is not incompatible with expanding agricultural production, because agribusiness itself is one of the main beneficiaries of the rain generated by the forest.
In both cases, this is a benefit that materializes mainly in the form of avoided damage: fewer crop losses, less heat stress on labour productivity, fewer extreme events, among others.