CSF calculates the cost of changing ranching in Amazonas

CSF calculates the cost of changing ranching in Amazonas

A study (in Portuguese) led by Marcos Amend of Conservação Estratégica (CSF-Brazil) has calculated the financial incentive that will be needed to change the destructive pattern of cutting a burning forest to open new pasture. The study, "Subsidies for Cattle and Conservation: Estimates for the Municipality of Humaitá," looks at what it would take to encourage landowners to restore degraded pasture instead of clearing forest, focusing on a sprawling territory in the state of Amazonas, one of the main "fronts" of deforestation. The team found that it would cost R$292/hectare/year (US$74/acre/year) to deter deforestation. In terms of the cost of beef, a premium of R$1.26/kg (US$0.35/lb) would be necessary. The authors discuss a number of scenarios for reducing cattle-driven deforestation and policy instruments to accomplish them. One source of financing could be carbon payments for reduced deforestation, but these revenues would have to be supplemented to cover ranchers' full cost of converting to sustainable practices. This study was made possible by generous support from USAID and the Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation and the partnership of members of the Fortis Consortium.