Brazil cracks down on deforestation
On May 6 this year Brazil launched the Program for Sustainable Production of Palm Oil with the aim to promote sustainability of the biodiesel feedstock and help prevent deforestation.
A major feature of the programme is a proposed bill that, if passed by the National Congress, would put into effect agro-ecological zoning rules that would restrict the cultivation of palm oil to areas that already have been subject to deforestation, with a key focus on degraded land areas.
Coordinated by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, the bill forbids the clearance of native vegetation for palm production. This means 97.3% of Brazil’s landmass, including the Amazon region, is out of bounds for palm farming.
However, according to the guidelines, this leaves 31.8 million hectares suitable for the production of palm, while only 70,000 hectares are currently being used for palm oil cultivation.
In order for Brazil to ensure the zoning laws are being adhered to within the Amazon rainforest it uses satellite monitoring for near real-time detection of deforestation. This has proved to be a key piece of equipment for enforcing the programme as the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Resources (IBAMA) can act fast and accurately to prevent the spread of deforestation.
Another part of the bill includes regulations and penalties. Now any company that uses palm oil from an area where the zoning laws do not apply could be confronted with the possibility of losing its environmental license.
Oil producers must also register with the Ministry of Agriculture, making them subject to inspection by government officials. Those who do not register will face consequences including a $570,000 fine (€453,000), a ban from their own property and machinery and products seized.
Izabella Teixeira, the minister of environment said: ‘The Program for the Sustainable Production of Palm Oil launched by Brazil…is designed to utilise degraded lands and prohibit the expansion of production in forest areas, thus helping to fight deforestation, which converges with the Amazon ecological-economic macrozoning law.’
The programme will also reward $34 million to research, development and innovation projects working to expand the nation’s capacity to produce oil palm shoots and seeds.
A major feature of the programme is a proposed bill that, if passed by the National Congress, would put into effect agro-ecological zoning rules that would restrict the cultivation of palm oil to areas that already have been subject to deforestation, with a key focus on degraded land areas.
Coordinated by the Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, the bill forbids the clearance of native vegetation for palm production. This means 97.3% of Brazil’s landmass, including the Amazon region, is out of bounds for palm farming.
However, according to the guidelines, this leaves 31.8 million hectares suitable for the production of palm, while only 70,000 hectares are currently being used for palm oil cultivation.
In order for Brazil to ensure the zoning laws are being adhered to within the Amazon rainforest it uses satellite monitoring for near real-time detection of deforestation. This has proved to be a key piece of equipment for enforcing the programme as the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Resources (IBAMA) can act fast and accurately to prevent the spread of deforestation.
Another part of the bill includes regulations and penalties. Now any company that uses palm oil from an area where the zoning laws do not apply could be confronted with the possibility of losing its environmental license.
Oil producers must also register with the Ministry of Agriculture, making them subject to inspection by government officials. Those who do not register will face consequences including a $570,000 fine (€453,000), a ban from their own property and machinery and products seized.
Izabella Teixeira, the minister of environment said: ‘The Program for the Sustainable Production of Palm Oil launched by Brazil…is designed to utilise degraded lands and prohibit the expansion of production in forest areas, thus helping to fight deforestation, which converges with the Amazon ecological-economic macrozoning law.’
The programme will also reward $34 million to research, development and innovation projects working to expand the nation’s capacity to produce oil palm shoots and seeds.
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