Climate Policies and Forest Restoration Challenges in Bahia State South, Brazil

Abstract

Climate change presents humanity with one of the most complex and pressing challenges of the 21st century. As such, effective public policies and legislation must be implemented to mitigate negative impacts and facilitate the adaptation of societies to new environmental dynamics. These policies are critical in aligning collective efforts toward a more sustainable and resilient economy, providing a crucial legal framework to guide individual, collective, and governmental actions toward climate change mitigation. Thereby, Brazil has committed to restoring 12 million hectares of forests by 2030 as part of its strategy to mitigate climate change. However, the absence of an express initial time frame by law has led to inconsistencies and possible low effectiveness of forest management policies. This study sought to examine Rural Environmental Registries (in Portuguese, Cadastro Ambiental Rural - CAR) of properties in the State of Bahia and assess restoration timetables for legal reserve areas, in addition to the challenges and opportunities associated with the formulation and implementation of forest restoration policies. Considering the implications of forest degradation on the environment and human livelihoods, it is a matter of great significance. As such, it warrants a thorough examination and analysis of the various factors involved, including the role of stakeholders, financial and technical feasibility, and the identification of appropriate goals and targets. The study findings indicate that, in 71% of the properties requiring legal reserve restoration, the timetable exceeded the established legal period of the year 2032. Additionally, in 45% of the cases, the term was calculated from the registration of the rural property in the CAR. Consequently, it was concluded that the erroneous interpretations adopted impede the recovery of native vegetation and, more significantly, the Brazilian goal of forest restoration of 12 million hectares of degraded land by 2030.