By Josh Denicoff and Mia Nielsen, MA students, Achieving Sustainable Development, George Washington University

The aim of SDG 15 (life on land) is to protect, restore, and promote sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems, sustainably manage forests, combat desertification, and halt and reverse land degradation and halt biodiversity loss. One of the main hindrances to achieving this Goal is what is known as the tragedy of the global environmental commons. This problem arises where individuals have access to a shared environmental resource and act in their own self-interest, at the expense of the rest. Nowhere is this problem greater today than in the world’s forests.

Forests are one of the Earth’s most important ecosystems, both for wildlife and for humans. Forests function as a massive carbon sink, are key to maintaining regional rainfall patterns, and are home to 80% of all terrestrial wildlife species. Over 1.6 billion people depend on forests for timber, food, fuel, jobs, and shelter. Despite the importance of forests, deforestation is one of the world’s foremost environmental issues, with the Earth losing about 15% of its forests in the last century to logging, agriculture, and population growth. Deforestation is especially prevalent in the Amazon rainforest of Brazil.

In Brazil, deforestation is largely driven by human activity, specifically agriculture. Cattle ranching and soybean farming are the main drivers of Amazonian deforestation, with cattle ranching accounting for 80% of current deforestation in the Amazon. In order to clear land for cattle, ranchers set large, powerful fires that destroy thousands of plants, animals, and their habitats.

Under Brazil’s previous President Jair Bolsanaro, more than 34,000 square kilometers (8.4 million acres) disappeared from the Amazon (an area larger than the entire nation of Belgium). With nearly 60% of the Amazon rainforest existing within Brazil’s borders, the country’s leadership and policies have an enormous impact on the “Earth’s lungs.” Bolsonaro cut environmental regulations and made it easier for cattle ranchers to both legally and illegally grab land.

Current President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva has made stopping deforestation one of his administration’s priorities and has had moderate (yet encouraging) success. While the rate of deforestation has decreased under Lula, in the SDG Transformation Center’s 2023 report, Brazil scored a 61.65/100 for their SDG 15 achievement progress, meaning major challenges like permanent deforestation remain.

Scientists worry the Amazon may reach a “tipping point” of deforestation where, once passed, the rainforest could dry out and turn into a sprawling savannah. This would be disastrous for the world, exacerbating climate change impacts, world hunger, and biodiversity loss. Therefore, it is imperative that solutions for deforestation are identified and implemented quickly. However, it is also imperative that solutions to deforestation do not harm the economy and food supply of Brazilians. Coherent policy approaches are needed.

One potential solution for mitigating deforestation in Brazil involves the expansion of sustainable cattle ranching practices. Initiative 20×20, a country-led effort, with support from financial and technical partners, seeks to alter the dynamics of land degradation in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) by undertaking to protect and restore 50 million hectares of diverse landscapes encompassing forests, farms, and pastures by 2030.

Initiative 20×20 underscores its members’ commitment to fostering sustainable cattle ranching within the Amazon region, with a primary goal of harmonizing economic interests with environmental considerations. Sustainable cattle ranching entails the adoption of practices that minimize environmental impacts, such as rotational grazing, agroforestry, and the preservation of ecological corridors.

The integration of trees within pasture areas not only bolsters biodiversity but also contributes to carbon sequestration. For example, ranchers in Brazil’s Pantanal Region, have used sustainable ranching practices for generations, avoiding clearing land and leaving native vegetation. As a result, more than 80% of its native vegetation remains, alongside vulnerable animals such as the jaguar, marsh deer, and white-lipped peccaries. The Pantanal maintains biodiversity even with 3,000 cattle ranches covering 90% of its land.

These initiatives are anticipated to yield positive spillover effects by promoting responsible land management, thereby enhancing livelihoods, generating employment opportunities, and contributing to poverty reduction. Moreover, these endeavors align with SDG 12 on sustainable consumption and production patterns and as such, hold the potential to increase productivity and resilience in the face of climate change.