How vegetation classification and mapping may influence conservation: The example of Brazil’s Native Vegetation Protection Law

The way vegetation is officially named, classified, and identified has critical implications for ecosystems biodiversity conservation. Yet little attention given to how such issues hinder the efficacy of laws mandating environmental conservation on private land. In Brazilian Amazon where half land now already under tenure or available future land-uses, differences in mapping interpretation directly affect level protection rural properties, especially transition areas forest savanna intermingle. Since Brazil’s Native Vegetation Protection Law (NVPL) attaches a higher percentage forest-located landowners may be tempted use conflicting mappings different classifications claim their properties are located other than forests reduce requirements. this paper, we compare three official databases examine law scenarios assess extent which fluctuate. We found difference up 430,000 km2 protected (an area size Iraq) according database characteristics chosen. This technical ambiguity lead make additional deforestation legal sharply amount restored these areas, if left unaddressed. Clarifying criteria used define critical, as states choices that regard, cases loopholes exploited occurred recent past. Given importance region global climate, highlight urgent need to: (1) support research clarify location; (2) agree harmonized methodology determine NVPL implementation, (3) explore alternative defining when conflict. • Accurate native key Uncertain classification weakens compliance with law. Study provides exploring multiple databases. square kilometers at risk reduced protection. Both restoration affected by this.