Natural Resource Conservation
Ecosystems are a key element for the mitigation of climate change and worth trillions in the services they provide. However, regardless of their importance, their conservation and restoration have been funded almost exclusively by limited public or philanthropic funding.
CPI research assesses the conservation impact of public policy globally. We also work with private and public partners to test and design conservation models that are capable of meeting socio-economic needs while protecting and restoring natural or modified ecosystems.
Featured work
Publication
We Need to Talk About Forest Degradation in the Amazon: Brazilian Public Policy Must Understand and Address this Threat
This publication sheds light on the importance of forest degradation to be included in Brazilian conservation policy and its role for the sustainable development of the Amazon.
Publication
Mapping the Effect of Deforestation on Rainfall: a Case Study from the State of Mato Grosso
In this insight, CPI/PUC-Rio shows that Amazon deforestation affects rainfall in the state of Mato Grosso – one of the most important agricultural hubs in the world, home to more than three million people, and 8 hydroelectric power plants.
Publication
Public Policies for the Protection of the Amazon Forest: What Works and How to Improve
This report consolidates the main findings of the academic literature that rigorously evaluates policies aimed at combating deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. Additionally, it draws on empirical evidence to propose ways of strengthening Brazil’s policy agenda for protecting the Amazon Forest whilst promoting the region’s sustainable development. The report thereby aims to contribute to the design and implementation of an effective policy framework for Amazon conservation.
Latest work
Publication
Fighting Deforestation in the Amazon: Strategic Coordination and Priorities for Federal and State Governments
In this study, researchers from CPI/PUC-Rio analyze deforestation and land tenure within the Amazon biome to identify critical areas for public authorities to address in each territory.
Publication
Where Does Brazil Stand and Where Is It Heading in the Implementation of the Forest Code? Opportunities for the New Lula Administration
In this publication, researchers from CPI/PUC-Rio provide an unprecedented and updated snapshot of the implementation of the Forest Code in all Brazilian states to identify the primary challenges that must be overcome and to present an agenda with seven key actions for the effective implementation of the Forest Code across the country.
Publication
Bioeconomy in the Amazon: Conceptual, Regulatory and Institutional Analysis
Researchers from the Climate Policy Initiative/Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (CPI/PUC-Rio), in partnership with AMZ2030, have studied the concept of bioeconomy, mapped national and international policies and strategies on the topic, and analyzed the main regulatory frameworks and governance institutions associated with this activity in Brazil.
Publication
Accessibility in the Legal Amazon: Measuring Market Access
This report presents groundbreaking estimates of the accessibility of the municipalities in the Legal Amazon. CPI/PUC-Rio researchers break down the accessibility metrics into different components to show that the poor quality of the transportation network is the key factor in the greater isolation of the municipalities.
Publication
Accessibility in the Legal Amazon: Delimiting the Area of Influence and Environmental Risks
In this study, CPI/PUC-Rio researchers discuss how improvements in delimiting the area of influence for logistics infrastructure projects can help mitigate the socio-environmental risks of these projects.
Publication
Presidential Decrees Exacerbate the Contradiction in Mining Regulations at the Expense of the Environment
Researchers from Climate Policy Initiative/Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro (CPI/PUC-Rio) present evidence that garimpeiro cooperatives have been used as a means to enable industrial or near-industrial-scale mineral exploration under a weaker regulatory framework.
