Skip to content

Newsroom

TNC praises Brazil’s first state-wide cattle traceability program committed to reducing emissions and preventing deforestation

December 01, 2023 | Dubai, UAE

Cattle grazing in a sustainably managed ranch in São Félix do Xingo, Brazil.
Sustainable Cattle Ranching Cattle grazing in a sustainably managed ranch in São Félix do Xingo, Brazil. © Christian Rodriguez/Prime Collective

Media Contacts

  • The Pará Cattle Integrity and Development Program creates the first environment focused mandatory individual traceability policy with environmental requirements for cattle in Brazil
  • The Program will cover an area bigger than France, Spain and Norway combined, with over 24 million cattle on more than 295,000 farms
  • The Nature Conservancy has been a key partner in the development of the Program which along with 13 other institutions representing government, producers, industry and civil society organizations, convened by the Government of Pará
  • In addition to these steps, TNC supports accelerated roll-out around Indigenous Territories and the state’s commitment to smallholder market access to deliver an inclusive program from the state, for the state, and for the planet.
At the COP28 climate change convention in Dubai, the Governor of the Brazilian state of Pará Helder Barbalho has signed an Executive Decree to create the Pará Cattle Integrity and Development Program. This is the first environment-focused mandatory individual traceability program for cattle in Brazil, which will radically increase transparency and visibility of the supply chain, channeling incentives and increasing producer compliance to reduce deforestation.
 
The Nature Conservancy (TNC), which has worked in the state of Pará for over 20 years, is part of an officially sanctioned working group that played a key role in the creation of the Program and will continue to play a key role in its implementation.
 
Cattle ranching in Brazil has historically accounted for nearly 24% of global annual tropical deforestation. Pará has made strong initial progress with a 23% reduction in deforestation from 2022 to 2023 through targeted enforcement strategies, but in a state larger than France, Spain and Norway combined that is home to more than 24 million cattle on more than 295,000 farms, the Program brings a new approach to ensure continued reductions in deforestation and associated greenhouse gas emissions from cattle.

In a world of challenging news, the commitment of the state of Pará and its coalition is a bright spot to celebrate.

Jennifer Morris CEO of The Nature Conservancy

The Decree sets the target of individually tracing all transported cattle in Pará by December 2025 and to cover the state’s entire herd of over 24 million cows by December 2026, along with ambitious and measurable goals to accelerate compliance and market inclusion, improve pasturelands, and increase productivity.

The Program will support rural producers, including family and medium-sized farms, to fulfil the new obligations and offer incentives for producers who join the Official Individual Bovid Traceability System of Pará (SRBIPA) to ensure compliance with the new executive decree.

Although 75% of Pará is covered in preserved Amazon rainforest, the threats are explicit, with 33% of all Brazilian Amazon deforestation occurring within the state in 2022, according to statistics from Brazil’s National Space Research Institute (INPE.)

Jennifer Morris, CEO of The Nature Conservancy, said: “In a world of challenging news, the commitment of the state of Pará and its coalition is a bright spot to celebrate. The public commitment to full transparency and traceability in Pará’s cattle sector by 2025 will tackle a critical food system contributing to climate change and habit loss in the Amazon. TNC is thrilled to be working with this coalition of diverse actors to support Brazil’s efforts to end deforestation.”

The Nature Conservancy is part of a coalition of public, private, and civil society partners, including other environmental NGOs, beef industry associations, and others. This group was convened by the Governor of Pará to help spearhead the Program, including government, producers, industry associations, and civil society. The Program will unite diverse stakeholders through different public and private sector pilots, initiatives, and approaches under a common vision for Pará’s growth, aligned to the state’s 2030 Amazon Now Carbon Neutral strategy.

About the Pará Cattle Integrity and Development Program:
Full text of the decree (Portuguese)
Full text of the decree convening the Working Group (Portuguese)

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more sustainable. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 81 countries and territories (40 by direct conservation impact and 41 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. To learn more, visit nature.org or follow @nature_press on X.