THE LIVESTOCK COMMODITY CHAIN: A LEVER FOR MONITORING PIONEER DYNAMICS IN THE BRAZILIAN AMAZON REGION?

Abstract

Recent research shows that the organisation of the cattle sector is one of the major causes of deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon region, and its access to the world market is perceived as a serious threat. The reality, however, is far more complex as shown by an analysis of commodity chains and emerging land organisation in several frontier areas. A multidisciplinary research team developed an integrated approach to study these interactions, which are usually analysed separately in this region. The livestock commodity chain can be divided into local, regional and "export" sub-chains, each of which has its own specific space or zone of influence, where it plays a particular role on the emerging land organisation. Currently, the "export" sub-chain appears to be the main factor driving deforestation, which in frontier areas depends on four successive and interdependent steps: an increase in the number and size of cattle herds, the emergence of the organisation of the commodity chain, the attraction of the frontier area, and land organisation. If this development pathway is restricted, then the spatial impact of the sub-chain will remain limited, like that of the local and regional sub-chains when they face market saturation. Otherwise, a spiral of events may steamroll right over the frontier area, leaving behind a smooth space organised for one specific function only: cattle and milk production. Understanding this four-step development might help identify appropriate measures to curtail it. The starting point is the production of reliable and up-to-date information. This information-on the commodity chains (census and statistical data) and land occupation (spatial data)-is collected and processed by various institutions and could be brought together to build monitoring indicators. Beyond this information gathering, protective measures should be implemented around three key processes involved in the spatial dynamics: commodity chain regulations should be established, tools should be developed for municipal land management, and land use planning must be revitalized in the frontier areas. The proposed regulation mechanisms should guarantee access to markets dependent on forest preservation and respect for labour rights. Access to the world market might favour this process, by disseminating international standards and requirements throughout the Amazon region. Land management, particularly in critical municipalities, should rely on participatory implementation of spatially-explicit tools (GIS) with local administration and stakeholders. Finally, without measures for land use planning in frontier areas, the cattle commodity chain will often be the only sector present and will organise the land in the most productive way for itself, which will include massive forest clearing.