Whereas, Brazilian ecosystems provide important ecosystem services to Brazilians in particular and humanity in general, including climate and hydrological cycle regulation, carbon up-take, water provision, pollutant degradation, crop pollination, medicine, among others; and

Whereas, Brazil has established a large number of biological reserves and other conservation units and has made significant progress in reducing deforestation rates and habitat loss in the last few years; and

Whereas, enforcement of the current Brazilian Forest Code (4771/1965) has played a key role in regulating land use on private and public properties, which ensures landscape connectivity for both plant and animal populations and protects ecosystem services; and

Whereas, scientists have developed new ways to improve productivity which could be applied to Brazil’s 330 million hectares currently dedicated to agricultural and ranching activities thereby reducing the need to clear new lands;

Whereas, the occupation of new natural areas cannot be considered urgent since 329.9 million hectares (38.7% of the national territory) is already occupied by rural activities; and

Whereas, productivity gains on the 158.8 million hectares occupied by cattle, today with an inefficient mean load of only 1.1 animals per hectare, could provide ground for new agricultural areas; and

Whereas, irregularly occupied natural areas has reached 97 million hectares;

Therefore, be it resolved that the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, the world’s largest scientific organization devoted to the study, protection, and sustainable use of tropical ecosystems:

• Urges the government of Brazil, particularly the Senate and the President, to postpone the approval of a decision regarding the amendments to the Brazilian Forest Code (1.876/99) recently passed by the National Congress until a science based assessment of the ecological impacts of the proposed modifications and their alternatives has been completed; and
• Urges the Brazilian government to reconsider the negative impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the long-term viability-sustainability of economic enterprises that can result from the proposed amendments; and
• Further recommends the Brazilian government to follow the sustainable development principles proposed by the Brazilian Academy of Science (ABC), the Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science (SBPC), and the Brazilian Association of Ecological Science and Conservation (ABECO).
  

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Background Information

• Forest Code bill could undermine sustainable growth in the Amazon by Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com - July 06, 2011
• Brazilian senator: Forest Code reform necessary to grow farm sector by Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com - July 06, 2011
• More about deforestation in Brazil at Mongabay.com

ATBC Resolution [pdf]