Cattle Ranching in the Amazon: Drivers and Impacts

The Amazon rainforest provides vital ecosystem services. It stores enormous amounts of carbon, helps regulate the global climate, and is home to unmatched biodiversity as well as millions of people. Yet, large parts of it are disappearing at an alarming pace. In Brazil, one of the main reasons is cattle ranching. Today, most newly deforested land in the Brazilian Amazon is turned into pasture for cows. This research project takes a close look at what drives the expansion of cattle ranching into the rainforest and what impacts this expansion has for people and the environment. Instead of relying on assumptions or correlational evidence, the project uses modern and rich data in conjunction with state-of-the-art statistical methods to clearly identify causal effects. It asks two big questions: What channels are behind deforestation linked to cattle, and what does this mean for environmental and human health? First, the project studies the role of beef production. As diets change around the world, demand for Brazilian beef and related exports have risen sharply. To meet this demand, cattle herds grow and new grazing areas pastures are created, mostly by clearing forest. But cattle in the Amazon also serves another purpose: appropriating unclaimed public land by feigning agricultural activities. The first part of this project aims to separate these motives and provide quantitative evidence for the deforestation impacts of beef production. With this, it aims to pinpoint how much deforestation is truly driven by people eating more beef and how these impacts can be alleviated, for example through increased intensification of existing pastures. The second part of the project focuses on the impacts of the beef industry on environmental and human health. Cattle ranching changes landscapes and by doing so, it can also affect people living nearby. Slaughterhouses are key hubs of the beef industry. When they open in new areas, they can trigger more forest clearing and fires, which pollute the air. They also use large amounts of water and can contaminate rivers and streams. This part of the project aims to study whether (i) slaughterhouse openings induce environmental degradations and (ii) communities close to slaughterhouses experience higher rates of illnesses, especially respiratory and water-related diseases, by comparing health data before and after these facilities begin operating. Why does this matter? Because decisions about agriculture, trade, and environmental protection affect not only forests and wildlife, but also human lives locally and globally. By clearly identifying the drivers and impacts of cattle ranching in the Amazon, this project provides solid evidence that can help policymakers design better rules, protect vulnerable communities, and reduce environmental damage without ignoring economic realities. This research aims to understand these complex links better and inform decisions before the Amazon reaches a point of no return.