Relation between expansion of soy plantations and deforestation

Table 2 below presents the evolution of land use per type of use (ranching, rice,
pearl millet, soy and other uses) in October 2004, according to frequency observed.
Table 2. Land use (in October 2004) in areas analyzed of large-scale deforestations,
per reference year.
Year of
Deforestation
2001
2002
2003
Current Use
Nº
Observations
Ranching
Rice
Soy 4
Millet
Ranching 3
Rice 3
Soy 1
Millet 1
Ranching 5
Rice 6
Soy 7
Millet
Not in Use 1
Total of observations 31
3. Soy cropping displacing ranching and scenarios of expanded cropping
The correlation analyses between expansion of
soy cropping and deforestation rates on a
municipal scale show that there is an indirect
relation between the two phenomena, indicating
that soy cropping is a deforestation factor, while
not the only one. Indications exist that its
expansion drives deforestation towards new
pioneer areas, mainly by displacing ranching.
Furthermore, future scenarios point to an
increased expansion of soy cropping due to the
availability of land and infrastructure.
Analyses of the evolution
of the areas under soy plantation
in the states of Mato Grosso,
Rondônia, Pará, Tocantins and
Maranhão were conducted,
where the most of the soy
producing regions from the
center-north regions of Brazil are
located. In parallel, deforestation
that occurred during the period
from 200-2002 was also
analyzed, seeking to identify
7