It is the largest tropical rainforest in the world. Almost 65% of its 7 million km² belong to Brazil. It possesses at least 10% of the world’s known biodiversity, 20% of the world’s fresh water, is inhabited by nearly 350 indigenous groups and stores the largest terrestrial carbon reserves, essential to fight climate change 7.
BEST LIVESTOCK PRACTICES AMAZON
BRAZIL
BIODIVERSITY
More than 40.000 species of plants, 3.000 species of fish, 1.300 species of birds, 427 species of mammals, 400 species of amphibians and 378 reptiles, of which many are in danger of extinction 8.
© André Dib / WWF Brazil
THREATS
According to Inpe, the Legal Amazon 9 lost 9,064 km² of forest between August 2022 and July 2023. And, according to Imazon, the main cause of deforestation is the implantation of pastures for livestock, which represents around 90% of illegal deforestation. Currently, the livestock of this region represents 20% of Brazil’s total. If more effective control measures are not adopted, livestock farming could cause the destruction of up to 3 million hectares between 2023 and 2025.
- Loss of biodiversity
- Soil degradation
- Decrease in the provision of vital ecosystem services
Cattle ranching can coexist, on a small scale and without deforestation, legal or illegal, if it is developed by adapting productive efficiency practices, or in agroforestry or Crop-Livestock-Forest Integration systems. In addition, it must consider the local labor force and be fairly remunerated, respecting the territorial rights of the Amazonian peoples and communities. However, the sustainable model, compared to current ones, contributes to reducing negative environmental impacts, such as greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions into the atmosphere.
Unsustainable cattle ranching has grown rapidly in the Amazon, stimulated by government policies and market demand. As a result, deforestation, linked to this and other factors, is one of the main socio-environmental problems in Brazil and the world. In addition to deforestation, the destruction of the Amazon brings with it an increase in fires, conflicts with indigenous peoples and land grabbing.
Deforestation of the world’s most biodiverse forest for agriculture, especially soybean monoculture, is another major threat to the region and has increased exponentially. Crops threaten the permanence of species through loss of habitat and intensive use of pesticides – which also contaminate soil and water. On the other hand, the expansion of monocultures also generates territorial conflicts and violations of the rights of traditional peoples and populations, as well as the loss of culturally relevant species in the region.
The construction of infrastructure works such as poorly planned highways that only benefit large producers, hydroelectric power plants and mines for mineral and gold extraction, especially illegal ones, threaten the lives of people and species in the Amazon rainforest, causing water and soil contamination, conflicts and violations of the rights of traditional peoples and populations.

















Opportunities
Innovative projects using BLP have achieved an increase in production efficiency in the areas authorized for production (20% of the total area of the farms), respecting environmental legislation and using practices with less impact on nature and biodiversity. These include the PECSA project (case study developed) and the Solidarity Project, in the state of Pará, focused on the implementation of agroforestry systems that integrate livestock and cocoa agroforestry production.
© WWF Brazil / Adriano Gambarini
Best livestock practices
Implementing best practices in all stages of livestock production promotes improvements in the farm’s productivity and profitability, in addition to contributing to human and animal health and well-being in harmony with nature.
© WWF Brazil
CASE STUDY NEW COUNTRYSIDE PROGRAM – SUSTAINABLE LIVESTOCK STRATEGY FOR THE AMAZON – AMAZON.
MATO GROSSO, BRAZIL.
The Instituto Centro de Vida – ICV – conducted experiments under the Novo Campo and Conect@gro programs. A new production model was tested based on the integrated management of the property, promoting the progressive adoption of good livestock practices. The implementation was based on individual diagnoses and adaptation plans developed for each farm, involving elements such as personnel management, production cost control, environmental and pasture management, technology installation, among others 10.
AREAS BY TYPE OF ENVIRONMENT (HECTARES)
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30.906Total area
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21.706Native vegetation
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9.200Pastures
© WWF Brazil
CHARACTERISTICS
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Efficiency of stocking rate
Increase in average stocking rate from 0.8 animal unit/ha to 2.8 animal unit/ha.
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Productivity efficiency
Increase in productivity from 57 kg/ha/year to an average of 330 kg/ha/year, eliminating the expansion of production over natural areas.
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Management
Intensive and highly efficient, allied to the preservation of natural resources.
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GHG emissions
Reduction of up to 20% of emissions per hectare and up to 90% per kg produced (from 53.5 tn CO2/kg to 7 tn CO2/kg).
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Employment
Qualified technicians and employees of the facility, with access to education and the health system. Average salaries compatible with the level of qualification.
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Water quality
Water supply with gravity distribution to drinking troughs to ensure quality.
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Fertilization
Following technical recommendations based on soil analysis.
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Animal health, nutrition and traceability
Rotational pasture management with strategic fertilization following technical guidelines. Strategic nutritional supplementation, full compliance with health and animal welfare standards. Traceability of 100% of cattle with individual identification, and monitoring of calf suppliers in relation to deforestation.
BIODIVERSITY
Preservation of native areas respecting the Brazilian Forest Code (80% of the protected area).
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GREAT BLUE HERONArdea herodias
© Arthur Grossman
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GARDEN TREE BOACorallus hortulanus
© Zig Koch
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RED-AND-GREEN MACAWAra macao
© Adriano Gambarini
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GRAY WALL JUMPERMenemerus bivittatus
© Zig Koch
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AMAZON RIVER DOLPHINInia geoffrensis
© Kevin Schafer