PlanaFlor: Brazil’s Green New Deal for Nature-Based Economic Recovery

Dates
-
Theme
Forestry
Economic Incentives
Location
Brazil
Region & Country
Latin America and the Caribbean
Brazil
Partners
Brazilian Foundation for Sustainable Development (FBDS)
BVRio (Bolsa Verde do Rio de Janeiro – Environmental Exchange of Rio de Janeiro)
Norad - The Norwegian Agency for Development Cooperation
Status
Completed

PlanaFlor: Brazil’s Green New Deal for Nature-Based Economic Recovery

PlanaFlor is a plan under the Brazilian Foundation for Sustainable Development (FBDS), which aims to provide environmental, economic, and social considerations for the effective implementation of the Brazilian Forest Code in all Brazilian biomes. This law is intended to promote rural production by generating jobs and income while prioritizing forest protection and recovery.  

Conservation Strategy Fund's Brazil team is working with BVRio in drafting technical reports in order to identify the monetary and climatic impacts of land use changes proposed by PlanaFlor

PlanaFlor's Impact

Until now, PlanaFlor identified approximately 75 million hectares of degraded pastures across Brazil, prioritizing 44 million hectares for recovery and conversion by 2030. This included 12 million hectares for agriculture, 20 million for agroforestry and integrated systems, and 12 million for restoring native vegetation. These findings underscored the potential for sustainable land use to drive carbon mitigation, ecosystem recovery, and rural development.

CSF's Role

CSF Brazil contributes to PlanaFlor by focusing on two key areas:

  1. Strategic design for conservation and reforestation: developing a national strategy to prioritize forest restoration and offsets based on ecosystem service demands, such as water supply, carbon storage, and biodiversity, while aligning with legal requirements and economic opportunities.
  2. Spatial prioritization for forest legal reserves: balancing restoration and compensation needs by integrating ecological corridors, water protection, carbon stocks, and agricultural land use, ensuring effective implementation of the Forest Code.

Phase 2: 2025 Priorities 

In the current phase of the project, CSF, FBDS, and BVRio are focusing on quantifying the monetary and climatic impacts of PlanaFlor's proposed land-use changes. The work includes evaluating the economic value of ecosystem services resulting from restoring degraded areas and converting pastures into sustainable agricultural systems. Key services being analyzed are:

  • Provision of non-timber forest products (NTFPs): supporting income generation and food security for local communities.
  • Climate regulation: capturing and storing carbon to reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
  • Water regulation and erosion control: securing water resources and supporting sustainable agriculture.
  • Biodiversity and bioprospecting: preserving habitats while unlocking economic potential through natural resources.
  • Additionally, the study will assess the avoided costs of preventing agricultural expansion into forested areas, reinforcing the importance of sustainable land-use planning to preserve Brazil's ecosystems.

Looking Ahead

PlanaFlor continues to demonstrate that sustainable land management can drive economic growth, climate resilience, and environmental preservation. By delivering actionable insights and fostering collaboration, this initiative is paving the way for Brazil to become a global leader in nature-based economic recovery.

This project is being conducted in partnership with FBDS and BVRio with funding from Norad.

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Photo: Brazilian rainforest, earlytwenties/ Shutterstock.com