Cattle Ranching Expansion and Deforestation in Para, Brazil

A 162-page Portuguese-language book investigates the socioeconomic and biophysical factors driving cattle ranching expansion in the Brazilian state of Para. The research is based on in-depth interviews with land managers conducted by an interdisciplinary team. The study focuses on the year 2003.

Use Cases

• Analyze interview transcripts to identify key social factors influencing the decision to invest in cattle ranching.
• Study the relationship between landholder characteristics and their selection of pasture management technologies.
• Model the decision-making criteria described by ranchers for deforesting primary or secondary growth areas.
• Extract policy recommendations from the conclusion chapter for regional land-use planning.

Strengths

• Data derived from in-depth interviews providing qualitative depth on decision-making.
• Interdisciplinary research approach combining social and biophysical perspectives.
• Focus on a specific regional case study (Para, Brazil) for detailed analysis.

Limitations

• Sample size and representativeness of interviewed landholders is unknown.
• Data is from a single year (2003), limiting analysis of temporal trends.
• Primary source is a book in Portuguese, requiring translation for broader access.

Provenance

Source

SCIOPS, accessed via NASA Earthdata.

Collection Method

In-depth interviews with land managers conducted by an interdisciplinary research team.

Time Range

2003

Geography

State of Para, Brazil, within the Amazon basin.