The fate of the rainforest, indigenous rights, and democracy in the balance

The past three and a half years have been brutal for the Amazon rainforest and Brazil’s indigenous peoples. Deforestation has soared, and there’s been a catastrophic increase in violence, threats and murder of indigenous peoples and environmental activists.

“We have seen a systematic erosion of crucial institutions and democratic processes in Brazil – especially those created to protect the rainforests and secure indigenous rights,” says Tørris Jeger, secretary general in Rainforest Foundation Norway.

In October, Brazilians will head to the polls to elect a president and a new national assembly. The outcome may likely decide the fate of both the Amazon rainforest and Brazilian civil society.

“History shows us that Brazil has the political will and capacity to stop deforestation, protect indigenous peoples and strengthen democracy. Now we all depend on Brazil choosing the right path forward,” he says.

From environmental champion to ecological catastrophe

The Amazon rainforest stores more CO2 than the rest of the world emits in two years. Every tree that is lost creates new emissions that makes it harder to reach the targets in the Paris agreement. And scientists have long warned that the rainforest is heading towards tipping points resulting in the eventual collapse of parts of the forest’s ecosystem.

If the Brazilian rainforests disappears, so does the hope of avoiding a global climate catastrophe.

Until recently, Brazil served as an example of environmental stewardship done right. In the decades of the early 2000s, the country managed to reduce deforestation by 80 per cent.

But now that trend has completely reversed. Deforestation has soared since Jair Bolsonaro assumed office in 2019. In the first seven months of 2022 alone, five and half thousand square kilometres of the Amazon rainforest was lost – an area seven times the size of New York City. This august also saw more forest fires than any other august over the past 12 years.

Democratic erosion

This calamity is a direct result of deliberate policies. Federal institutions like the environmental protection agency (Ibama), the department of indigenous affairs (Funai) and the satellite monitoring agency (INPE) have had their budgets drastically reduced, while key employees have been replaced by Bolsonaro loyalists from the military. And the president himself has repeatedly expressed tacit support for illegal logging in the Amazon.

At the same time, life has become increasingly difficult for those standing up for the rainforest and indigenous rights.

“We’ve seen a marked increase in threats, violence and murders towards indigenous peoples, local communities, and environmental activists. The murders of the British journalist Dom Philips and the anthropologist Bruno Pereira, which sent shockwaves through the international community, is regrettably just one of many tragedies,” Jæger of RFN says.

The public attacks on environmental institutions and defenders have been paralleled by attacks on key democratic institutions like the supreme court, electoral courts and voting authorities.

“There’s a direct link between the erosion of environmental governance in Brazil and the increased threat to its democracy,” Jæger says. “Brazil needs independent, transparent institutions.”

The international community must step up

Should the Brazilian electorate decide to oust Bolsonaro, any new government will nevertheless face significant challenges. A new course will also depend heavily on factors beyond the country’s own borders.

“To stop the rampant deforestation and violence, the international community must change the way it relates to Brazil. Companies operating in or importing goods from Brazil have a particular responsibility,” Jæger states.

For example, Brazil is currently in a process of gaining OECD membership. The OECD and its member countries must make membership contingent on reduced deforestation and the rebuilding of indigenous rights and democratic institutions.

“It boils down to this: we must stop doing business with corporations contributing to deforestation. We need both national and international legislation to prevent the import of goods linked to deforestation, which the EU is currently devising,” Jæger concludes.