cattle ranching

Brazilian police conducted 13 search warrants targeting suspects accused of using chemicals to clear 10,180 hectares of the Amazon rainforest in Para state for commercial pasture. No arrests were made, but suspects could face charges including environmental crimes and illegal chemical use. Cattle ranching remains the primary driver of deforestation, despite a 23.5% decline in 2025 compared to the previous year.

Colombia's deforestation rose by 5% in 2025, with 119,483 hectares lost, though it remained 31% below 2021 levels. Amazon forest loss stayed steady at 77,805 hectares, driven by illegal land grabbing, cattle ranching, and infrastructure expansion.

Federal authorities in Brazil ordered the removal of cattle from Bananal Island, a protected Indigenous territory, citing conservation laws. The move disrupted income for Indigenous residents who leased land to ranchers, highlighting tensions between conservation, Indigenous interests, and agribusiness. Cattle ranching remains a major driver of deforestation in the Amazon.

Colombia enacted a new law requiring beef to be traced back to its origins to combat deforestation in protected areas. The law will take effect over two years and is seen as a potential model for the Amazon region, where cattle ranching is a leading cause of tree loss.

Colombia has enacted a law requiring the cattle industry to trace livestock and ensure beef supply chains are free from deforestation. The law aims to address deforestation in the Amazon caused by cattle ranching by integrating tracking systems to exclude illegally cleared land beef from markets.