Cattle ranching intensification in Brazil can reduce global greenhouse gas emissions by sparing land from deforestation.

ABSTRACT: This study examines whether policies to encourage cattle ranching intensification in Brazil can abate global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions by sparing land from deforestation. We use an economic model of global land use to investigate, from 2010 to 2030, the global agricultural outcomes, land use changes, and GHG abatement resulting from two potential Brazilian policies: a tax on cattle from conventional pasture and a subsidy for cattle from semi-intensive pasture. We find that under either policy, Brazil could achieve considerable sparing of forests and abatement of GHGs, in line with its national policy targets. The land spared, particularly under the tax, is far less than proportional to the productivity increased. However, the tax, despite prompting less adoption of semi-intensive ranc

SUBMITTER: Cohn AS 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC4034253 | biostudies-literature | 2014 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature