Brazil’s COP30 legacy should be to protect more of its forests
Summary
As host of COP30 in November, Brazil has a tangible opportunity to strengthen forest protection. Authors Paulo Moutinho and André Guimarães (IPAM Amazônia) calculate that legally protected forest in the Amazon could be increased from roughly 230 million hectares to more than 300 million hectares. The correspondence urges Brazil to use the COP30 spotlight to expand legally protected areas rather than weaken planning rules.
Key Points
- Brazil can substantially increase legally protected Amazon forest area (from ~230 million ha to >300 million ha) if decisive legal and planning actions are taken.
- COP30 provides an international platform and political leverage for Brazil to commit to stronger protections.
- Expanding legal protection would yield climate benefits (carbon storage) and preserve biodiversity and indigenous lands.
- The authors warn against weakening environmental planning rules, which would undermine conservation gains.
- The correspondence is authored by researchers at the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM Amazônia) and declares no competing interests.
Content summary
The piece is a concise correspondence calling on Brazil to convert political momentum from hosting COP30 into concrete legal protection for Amazonian forests. Using calculations by the authors, it shows a route to add some 70+ million hectares under legal protection. The argument links expanded protected areas to global climate mitigation, biodiversity conservation and safeguarding of indigenous territories, and cautions against policy roll-backs that would negate any positive legacy from the summit.
Context and relevance
Brazil’s actions at COP30 will be closely watched by the international community: commitments made (or reversed) will influence global climate targets and funding flows. Strengthening legal protection for the Amazon aligns with wider trends pushing for nature-based climate solutions and improved land-use governance. The note is timely because it pairs a clear numerical target with a political moment when governments and funders are seeking measurable commitments.
Author style
Punchy — short, direct and aimed at policymakers and the climate community. If you care about tangible outcomes from COP30, this correspondence amplifies why legal protections matter and why Brazil should seize the moment.
Why should I read this?
Because it tells you, plainly and quickly, what Brazil could actually do at COP30 that would make a real difference — and gives a concrete figure you can remember. If you follow climate policy, land‑use or conservation, this saves you time by cutting to the nub of the opportunity and the risk: expand protected areas now; don’t roll rules back.