INSTRUMENTS FOR COMBATING AND MITIGATING DEFORESTATION IN THE MATOPIBA CERRADO: POTENTIALS AND CHALLENGES

potencialidades e desafios

Abstract

Deforestation in the states of Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí, and Bahia represents a significant share of native vegetation loss in the Cerrado biome, driven largely by the expansion of the agricultural frontier in the Matopiba region. The strong presence of agribusiness focused on commodity production intensifies pressure on natural resources. In light of national targets to reduce and eradicate deforestation by 2030, it is essential to reconcile productive land use with environmental conservation. Within this context, the study analyzes the main instruments for combating and mitigating deforestation in municipalities located in the Matopiba Cerrado, providing a regional overview of the issue, identifying public and private instruments, and discussing their relevance. The research is based on a literature review, regulatory analysis, and the use of secondary data. Among public instruments, the Vegetation Suppression Authorization (ASV), the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) combined with environmental monitoring, and the strengthening of enforcement mechanisms stand out. In the private sphere, instruments include Legal Reserve Compensation (CRL), Environmental Reserve Quotas (CRA), environmental certifications, and voluntary zero-deforestation commitments. Despite their existence, these instruments face limitations in effectiveness, associated with the economic power of agents, territorial heterogeneity, and the institutional fragility of the State in mediating socio-environmental conflicts.