BRAZIL: FROM FOREST TO FARMLAND - CATTLE ILLEGALLY GRAZED IN BRAZIL'S AMAZON FOUND IN JBS'S SUPPLY C
BRAZIL: FROM FOREST TO FARMLAND - CATTLE ILLEGALLY GRAZED IN BRAZIL’S AMAZON FOUND IN JBS’S SUPPLY CHAIN
15 July 2020, Index number: AMR 19/2657/2020
In Brazil’s Amazon, illegal land seizures, deforestation and fires often form part of the process of converting rainforest into pasture. In this report, Amnesty International documents recent land seizures for illegal commercial cattle ranching in protected areas in Brazil’s Amazon and its adverse human rights impacts. It finds that land seizures are often accompanied by threats, intimidation and violence against those living on and seeking to defend their territories. The report also finds that cattle illegally grazed in protected areas have entered the supply chain of JBS, the largest producer of beef in the world.
https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr19/2657/2020/en/
PDF:
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
In Brazil’s Amazon, land seizures for illegal commercial cattle ranching are increasing at the expense of the
rights of Indigenous peoples and traditional residents of Reserves. These land seizures threaten their land
and their future. Indigenous peoples and residents of Reserves cannot access occupied areas, reducing
their opportunities to hunt or collect natural resources.
The land seizures are often accompanied by threats and intimidation against those living on and seeking to
defend their territories. Indigenous peoples and traditional residents of Reserves often fear being hurt or
killed if they go to these areas. In the worst cases, they are compelled to flee their homes.
Land seizures, deforestation and fires are often stages in a process that converts Amazon rainforest into
pasture for cattle. The process starts when cattle farmers and grileiros – private individuals who illegally seize
land which they either keep for themselves or sell to others for profit – mark plots of land in the forest. The
process continues when cattle farmers and grileiros cut down trees, light fires (often repeatedly in the same
area), then plant grass and introduce cattle to graze.
According to Brazilian government data, 63% of the area deforested from 1988 to 2014 in Brazil’s Amazon
region became pasture for cattle.
Commercial cattle ranching is rapidly expanding in protected areas where the activity is illegal. Amnesty
International recently interviewed Indigenous people and traditional residents of three protected areas in the
key northern state of Rondônia: Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau Indigenous territory and Rio Jacy-Paraná and Rio Ouro
Preto Reserves.
Amnesty International also obtained official data on cattle ranching in protected areas through the
submission of Freedom of Information requests to Rondônia’s government and analysed official animal
health control documents, as well as satellite imagery.
Although commercial cattle ranching is prohibited in the three areas, Uru-Eu-Wau-Wau people and residents
of the Reserves described recent attempts to seize land in order to graze cattle. While there is a long history
of land seizures, incursions have intensified since January 2019. The number of land seizures has increased
sharply, and new areas have been cleared and planted with grass for pasture.
Satellite imagery taken between January and May 2020 clearly shows recent attempts to expand illegal
commercial cattle ranching in all three sites. Images reveal areas that have been recently cleared, the
construction of drinking ponds for cattle, as well as cattle grazing in these areas.
Rondônia’s animal health control agency (Agência de Defesa Sanitária Agrosilvopastoril do Estado de
Rondônia-IDARON) maintains detailed records of farmers who graze cattle in protected areas. This is
because IDARON, like other state animal health control agencies in Brazil, registers cattle farmers and
farms, including the geographic coordinates of farms.
More:
https://www.amnesty.org/download/Documents/AMR1926572020ENGLISH.PDF
