The importance of science in policy instruments application for land use

Brazil is a global agricultural heavyweight. The country is the world’s largest beef exporter and second largest beef producer. For soy it is both, largest producer and exporter. On the other hand Brazil hosts the largest remaining parts of the Amazon rain forests, as well as biodiversity hotspots and ecosystems of global importance. Experience  with a decoupling of soy production and deforestation have shown that increasing welfare based on agricultural production does not necessarily need to be on the expense of natural resources. Decreasing deforestation rates in the early 2000’s has shown that political will can yield the desired effects. These are experiences that current policy making needs to build on. On the other hand, the sheer extend of irreversibly lost forest areas and the speed of ongoing deforestation raises concerns about the possibilities of national and international efforts for sustainable land use.

Our research shows that the Brazilian policy arrangement in the land use sector is complex but includes comprehensive legislation that probably provides all the tools needed for sustainable land use development on national level – if well implemented. There are policy strategies that cover all relevant sectors. They have evolved over time and reflect demands of various stakeholder groups. They reflect societal, economic and ecological challenges throughout the decades from an early focus on land settlement, to resource utilization, biodiversity conservation, restoration and climate change mitigation and adaptation in recent years.

Policy dialogue is needed to create a mutual understanding of this policy arrangement with its complex interrelations, links and dependencies and stakeholder groups benefitting and supporting specific policy instruments in many cases. Because a focus on single policy instruments, as often triggered by the international or European community will not be effective. Just increasing the extend of protected areas without taking into consideration needs of indigenous peoples or the national bioeconomy will not be successful.

Another example is the European deforestation free commodities regulation (EUDR) with its focus on traceability and a due diligence system to ban imports of “deforestation commodities”. Its successful implementation will depend on links with additional policy instruments like a functioning land registry (CAR), effective monitoring systems, information campaigns and capacity building specifically for smallholders, as well as enforcement measures. Support and cooperation measures need to take into account at least those policy instruments that have a direct and causal link to the EUDR. This will increase the effectiveness on one hand but as well ownership on the Brazilian side because then original Brazilian policy instruments are supported and considered in addition to an instrument that has rightly been blamed for its unilateralism.

Science can help to disentangle the network of policies and interests from an independent and rational perspective and by this play a role in the policy dialogue. It is also needed to check on the effectiveness of the different instruments and thus keep the attention wide to avoid a strong focus on only a single instrument as can currently be observed.