The Matopiba region of Brazil encompasses the state of Tocantins and some parts of the states of Maranhão, Piauí and Bahia. Brazil’s last agircultural frontier, Matopiba has become a hotbed of deforestation in the Cerrado, a vast savannah-like ecosystem that abuts the Amazon, driven by the rapid expansion of soy cultivation. Slowing the loss and speeding the recovery of forests in this region requires aligning public policies and programs with the aspirations of its farmers.
Our Strategy
Earth Innovation Institute’s work in Matopiba is centered on developing jurisdictional strategies that establish and achieve goals for agricultural production, environmental conservation and social inclusion. These processes are modeled on the Mato Grosso “Produce, Conserve, Include” approach. Our teams in Matopiba are providing land-use analyses and other critical sources of information across the region to identify key challenges and opportunities for achieving a regional sustainable development approach that promotes implementation of Brazil’s Forest Code and contributes to the mitigation of climate change.
At the same time, we are providing support to companies interested in acting as early movers in sustainable, jurisdictional sourcing. Our long-term vision is to help create the enabling conditions that increase producer competitiveness while reducing GHG emissions in the Matopiba region.
