Brazil aims to reduce emissions from deforestation and land use as a contribution to climate change mitigation and to conserve the country’s rich biodiversity. The country has pledged to cut its greenhouse gas emissions to 37 per cent below 2005 levels by 2025, and intends to reach a 43 per cent cut by 2030. It is the first time a major developing country has committed to an absolute decrease in emissions.

A consortium of leading research institutes (IIASA, INPE, IPEA, and UNEP-WCMC) joined forces in the REDD-PAC project to develop and apply land use models that can support the development of policies that balance food and biofuel production with environmental protection. By adapting the global economic model GLOBIOM, the project team projected future land use and agricultural production spatially for the whole country, taking account of both internal policies and external trade. The results will help decision makers assess possible impacts of public policy on emissions, agricultural production and biodiversity.

The REDD-PAC project is financed by the International Climate Initiative (IKI) of the Federal Ministry of Germany for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Building and Nuclear Safety (BMUB). Additional support has been provided by the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP).