Energy Policy and Forest Sustainability: A Reflection on the New Brazilian Forest Code

Abstract

The world energy market has been sufferingsome modifications with the emergence of new energyresources as bio-fuels. In this context, Brazil has beenproving to have the ability to produce enough ethanolderived from sugarcane through its huge territory andfertile soil, what enables the country to control a bigshare of the energy supply and to take the major rolefrom other important energy producers. But, aconsiderable change in the use of the soil is required,being the major one the expansion of lands that leads todeforestation in Amazonia. All over the last two years,important changes were discussed and made in theBrazilian forest regulation. Our study consists on theexplanation of what we think are the true andfundamental reasons for reviewing the Brazilian ForestCode; how sustainable are these changes and who willbenefit from.