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WHEREAS, Secondary forests are embedded in these working landscapes that may include severely modified habitats such as low-diversity agriculture, monoculture plantations, and highly degraded forests, all of which support rural livelihoods and some of the biodiversity conservation and environmental services we derive from primary forests.

WHEREAS, It is critical that we adopt a landscape, multi-use perspective in managing these forests for biodiversity conservation, environmental services, and rural livelihoods through appropriate spatial and land use planning.

WHEREAS, To enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of current and future public policy efforts aimed at conserving tropical forests and to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from deforestation and forest degradation specific definitions of the different categories of forested landscapes (e.g., primary, secondary in different stages, and degraded) should be made explicit by interested parties.

WHEREAS, We recognize that tropical countries face tensions when attempting to make compatible both conservation and development/poverty alleviation goals, which in turn affects decisions related to the fate of forested landscapes.

THEREFORE, BE IT RESOLVED that the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, the world's largest scientific organization devoted to the study, protection, and wise use of tropical ecosystems:

2. URGES relevant parties to consider the ecosystem, social, and economic services provided by such forests when formulating land zoning and land and resource use policies; and

3. STRONGLY RECOMMENDS that any bilateral or multilateral agreements on forest conservation, such as REDD+ initiatives designed to reduce emissions from deforestation and forest degradation, include explicit land zoning and resource use considerations for existing primary forests as well as for secondary forests in different degrees of succession.

• Evolution & Ecology of Neotropical Ecosystems
• Community Ecology & Function
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Whereas, Brazil has established a large number of biological reserves and other conservation units and has made significant progress in reducing deforestation rates and habitat loss in the last few years; and

Whereas, enforcement of the current Brazilian Forest Code (4771/1965) has played a key role in regulating land use on private and public properties, which ensures landscape connectivity for both plant and animal populations and protects ecosystem services; and

Whereas, scientists have developed new ways to improve productivity which could be applied to Brazil’s 330 million hectares currently dedicated to agricultural and ranching activities thereby reducing the need to clear new lands;

Whereas, the occupation of new natural areas cannot be considered urgent since 329.9 million hectares (38.7% of the national territory) is already occupied by rural activities; and

Whereas, productivity gains on the 158.8 million hectares occupied by cattle, today with an inefficient mean load of only 1.1 animals per hectare, could provide ground for new agricultural areas; and

Whereas, irregularly occupied natural areas has reached 97 million hectares;

Therefore, be it resolved that the Association for Tropical Biology and Conservation, the world’s largest scientific organization devoted to the study, protection, and sustainable use of tropical ecosystems:

• Urges the government of Brazil, particularly the Senate and the President, to postpone the approval of a decision regarding the amendments to the Brazilian Forest Code (1.876/99) recently passed by the National Congress until a science based assessment of the ecological impacts of the proposed modifications and their alternatives has been completed; and
• Urges the Brazilian government to reconsider the negative impacts on biodiversity, ecosystem services, and the long-term viability-sustainability of economic enterprises that can result from the proposed amendments; and
• Further recommends the Brazilian government to follow the sustainable development principles proposed by the Brazilian Academy of Science (ABC), the Brazilian Society for the Progress of Science (SBPC), and the Brazilian Association of Ecological Science and Conservation (ABECO).
  

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Background Information

• Forest Code bill could undermine sustainable growth in the Amazon by Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com - July 06, 2011
• Brazilian senator: Forest Code reform necessary to grow farm sector by Rhett A. Butler, mongabay.com - July 06, 2011
• More about deforestation in Brazil at Mongabay.com

ATBC Resolution [pdf]