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Agrarian Structure and Land-cover Change Along the Lifespan of Three Colonization Areas in the Brazilian Amazon

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  • Ludewigs, Thomas
  • D'antona, Alvaro de Oliveira
  • Brondízio, Eduardo Sonnewend
  • Hetrick, Scott

Abstract

Summary We analyze three aging state-led land reform projects in Amazônia, as, through time, lot turnover, consolidation, and fragmentation differentially impact the spatial composition of agrarian structure and land use. Data include 1970-2003 satellite imagery, GIS layers, and interviews with 640 farmers. Lot turnover rates of 72% and increases of 0.31 in Gini indexes show active land markets resulting in intrasettlement urbanization. Deforestation rates are positively correlated with property size and cattle herd size in all study sites, resulting in land aggregation and intrasettlement urbanization but are not related to land titles. Privatization of public lands in the Amazon re-enforces land inequality gaps instead of reducing them. Better models are needed.

Suggested Citation

  • Ludewigs, Thomas & D'antona, Alvaro de Oliveira & Brondízio, Eduardo Sonnewend & Hetrick, Scott, 2009. "Agrarian Structure and Land-cover Change Along the Lifespan of Three Colonization Areas in the Brazilian Amazon," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 37(8), pages 1348-1359, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:wdevel:v:37:y:2009:i:8:p:1348-1359
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    Cited by:

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    2. Jorge Hargrave & Krisztina Kis-Katos, 2013. "Economic Causes of Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon: A Panel Data Analysis for the 2000s," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 54(4), pages 471-494, April.
    3. Lee J. Alston & Gary D. Libecap & Bernardo Mueller, 2010. "Interest Groups, Information Manipulation in the Media, and Public Policy: The Case of the Landless Peasants Movement in Brazil," NBER Working Papers 15865, National Bureau of Economic Research, Inc.
    4. Mullan, Katrina & Caviglia-Harris, Jill L. & Sills, Erin O., 2021. "Sustainability of agricultural production following deforestation in the tropics: Evidence on the value of newly-deforested, long-deforested and forested land in the Brazilian Amazon," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 108(C).
    5. Cisneros, Elías & Börner, Jan & Pagiola, Stefano & Wunder, Sven, 2022. "Impacts of conservation incentives in protected areas: The case of Bolsa Floresta, Brazil," Journal of Environmental Economics and Management, Elsevier, vol. 111(C).
    6. Bragança, Arthur & Dahis, Ricardo, 2022. "Cutting special interests by the roots: Evidence from the Brazilian Amazon," Journal of Public Economics, Elsevier, vol. 215(C).
    7. Ervin, Daniel & Lopéz-Carr, David & Riosmena, Fernando & Ryan, Sadie J., 2020. "Examining the relationship between migration and forest cover change in Mexico from 2001 to 2010," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 91(C).
    8. Mendonça, Mário Jorge & Loureiro, Paulo R.A. & Sachsida, Adolfo, 2012. "The dynamics of land-use in Brazilian Amazon," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 84(C), pages 23-36.
    9. Ferreira, Marcelo Dias Paes & Féres, José Gustavo, 2020. "Farm size and Land use efficiency in the Brazilian Amazon," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 99(C).
    10. Ferreira, M. & Feres, J.G., 2018. "Farm Size and Productive Efficiency in Brazilian Amazon," 2018 Conference, July 28-August 2, 2018, Vancouver, British Columbia 277289, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    11. Katrina Mullan & Erin Sills & Subhrendu K. Pattanayak & Jill Caviglia-Harris, 2018. "Converting Forests to Farms: The Economic Benefits of Clearing Forests in Agricultural Settlements in the Amazon," Environmental & Resource Economics, Springer;European Association of Environmental and Resource Economists, vol. 71(2), pages 427-455, October.
    12. Madalina Epure, 2013. "How Does the Changing Access to Resources Affect the Power and Authority of the Postsocialist Romanian State?," Journal of Economic Development, Environment and People, Alliance of Central-Eastern European Universities, vol. 2(1), pages 32-56, March.

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