As the largest tropical forest globally, the Brazilian Amazon Forest plays a crucial role as a primary carbon sink, contributing significantly to our fight against climate change. Beyond its environmental impact, it serves as a vital refuge for approximately 10% of the world’s biodiversity and provides sustenance and shelter for numerous traditional communities.

Unfortunately, deforestation, forest degradation, and shifts in land use, particularly in agriculture, have collectively contributed to 23% of all anthropogenic greenhouse gas emissions worldwide between 2007 and 2016. Within Brazil, these activities accounted for a staggering 63% of national emissions in 2015. Although there was a decline in the Brazilian deforestation rate from 2004 to 2012, recent years have witnessed a concerning resurgence in these figures. Hence, there is an immediate and pressing need to explore alternative socioeconomic development approaches that prioritise the value of these standing forests.