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Combining socioeconomic development with environmental governance in the Brazilian Amazon: the Mato Grosso agricultural frontier at a tipping point

Author

Listed:
  • Damien Arvor

    (Université Rennes 2)

  • Marion Daugeard

    (UMR 7227 CNRS/Université Paris 3 Sorbonne Nouvelle/PRES Sorbonne Paris Cité
    Universidade de Brasilia)

  • Isabelle Tritsch

    (UMR 7227 CNRS/Université Paris 3 Sorbonne Nouvelle/PRES Sorbonne Paris Cité)

  • Neli Aparecida Mello-Thery

    (Universidade de São Paulo)

  • Hervé Thery

    (UMR 7227 CNRS/Université Paris 3 Sorbonne Nouvelle/PRES Sorbonne Paris Cité)

  • Vincent Dubreuil

    (Universidade de São Paulo)

Abstract

Agricultural landscapes of the southern Brazilian Amazon are the result of 80 years of governmental policies to install a powerful agricultural sector. Yet, this rapid expansion raised important environmental considerations especially with regard to deforestation. The agricultural frontier is thus now facing a huge challenge: to combine socioeconomic development with environmental conservation in the context of frontier expansion. Based on a conceptual model of the agricultural frontier, we review historical changes in environmental and development policies in the Brazilian state of Mato Grosso and emphasize their ambivalent trend to both encourage and control the progress of the frontier. We then extend this model with an integration stage where environmental governance and economic development evolve from competing to complementary concepts. At this stage, the efforts to slow down deforestation are accompanied with programs to promote new agricultural practices and support industrialization. Finally, we put into perspective this recent evolution with regard to the underlying reasons for changing the agricultural model, thus considering the agricultural frontier to be at a tipping point where first positive results need to be confirmed in spite of an unstable economic and political situation.

Suggested Citation

  • Damien Arvor & Marion Daugeard & Isabelle Tritsch & Neli Aparecida Mello-Thery & Hervé Thery & Vincent Dubreuil, 2018. "Combining socioeconomic development with environmental governance in the Brazilian Amazon: the Mato Grosso agricultural frontier at a tipping point," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 20(1), pages 1-22, February.
  • Handle: RePEc:spr:endesu:v:20:y:2018:i:1:d:10.1007_s10668-016-9889-1
    DOI: 10.1007/s10668-016-9889-1
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    Cited by:

    1. Guang Yang & Hua Yan & Quanfeng Li, 2023. "Coordination Analysis of Sustainable Agricultural Development in Northeast China from the Perspective of Spatiotemporal Relationships," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(23), pages 1-25, November.
    2. Daniella Tiemi Sasaki Okida & Osmar Abílio de Carvalho Júnior & Osmar Luiz Ferreira de Carvalho & Roberto Arnaldo Trancoso Gomes & Renato Fontes Guimarães, 2021. "Relationship between Land Property Security and Brazilian Amazon Deforestation in the Mato Grosso State during the Period 2013–2018," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-20, February.
    3. Jordane Aparecida Vieira dos Reis & Aaron Kinyu Hoshide & John Robert Vreyens & André Soares de Oliveira & Vanessa Aparecida Moreira de Barros & Wininton Mendes da Silva & Luana Molossi & Jessica Lima, 2023. "Training Sources and Preferences for Agricultural Producers and Professionals in Middle-North Mato Grosso, Brazil," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(6), pages 1-23, March.
    4. Preto, Mayra de Freitas & Garcia, Andrea Santos & Nakai, Érica Silva & Casarin, Laura Piacentini & Vilela, Vívian Maria de Faria Nasser & Ballester, Maria Victoria Ramos, 2022. "The role of environmental legislation and land use patterns on riparian deforestation dynamics in an Amazonian agricultural frontier (MT, Brazil)," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 118(C).
    5. Neli Aparecida de Mello-Théry & Eduardo de Lima Caldas & Beatriz M. Funatsu & Damien Arvor & Vincent Dubreuil, 2020. "Climate Change and Public Policies in the Brazilian Amazon State of Mato Grosso: Perceptions and Challenges," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-20, June.
    6. Antonio A. R. Ioris, 2018. "The Politics of Agribusiness and the Business of Sustainability," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(5), pages 1-21, May.
    7. Milhorance, Carolina & Bursztyn, Marcel, 2018. "Emerging hybrid governance to foster low-emission rural development in the amazon frontier," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 75(C), pages 11-20.

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