Slow-down of deforestation following a Brazilian forest policy was less effective on private lands than in all conservation areas

Abstract Private lands are important for conservation worldwide, but knowledge about their effectiveness is still insufficient. To help fill this gap, we analyzed the impacts of a national policy on private in Brazil, global biodiversity hotspot with high potential nature-based climate solutions. Through evaluation over 4 million rural properties from Rural Environmental Cadastre, found that last review 2012 mainly affected Amazon Forest. The amnesty granted to 80% landowners small prevented restoration 14.6 hectares agricultural land carbon sequestration 2.4 gigatonnes. We exist within limits public areas and between 2003 2020 deforestation rates these were higher than those across all areas. Cadastre can be an effective tool managing forests lands, integrate governance approaches control mitigate change.