Cows on the Planet

How much do cows contribute to Amazon deforestation?

Episode Summary

Join Tim and Kim as they discuss the role cattle play in deforestation of the Amazon with Dr. Raoni Rajao of the Federal University of Minas Gerais. Are cattle driving the bus or the idiots holding the smoking gun after the crime?

Episode Notes

Literature Cited

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Rajão, R., & Vurdubakis, T. (2013). On the Pragmatics of Inscription: Detecting Deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon. Theory, Culture & Society, 30(4), 151–177. https://doi.org/10.1177/0263276413486203

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Silva Junior, C. H. L., Pessôa, A. C. M., Carvalho, N. S., Reis, J. B. C., Anderson, L. O., & Aragão, L. E. O. C. (2021). The Brazilian Amazon deforestation rate in 2020 is the greatest of the decade. Nature Ecology & Evolution, 5(2), 144–145. https://doi.org/10.1038/s41559-020-01368-x

Skidmore, M. E., Moffette, F., Rausch, L., Christie, M., Munger, J., & Gibbs, H. K. (2021). Cattle ranchers and deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon: Production, location, and policies. Global Environmental Change, 68, 102280. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2021.102280

Soares-Filho, B., Rajão, R., Macedo, M., Carneiro, A., Costa, W., Coe, M., Rodrigues, H., & Alencar, A. (2014). Cracking Brazil’s Forest Code. Science, 344(6182), 363–364. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1246663

Walker, N. F., Patel, S. A., & Kalif, K. A. B. (2013). From Amazon Pasture to the High Street: Deforestation and the Brazilian Cattle Product Supply Chain. Tropical Conservation Science, 6(3), 446–467. https://doi.org/10.1177/194008291300600309

Walker, R., Moran, E., & Anselin, L. (2000). Deforestation and Cattle Ranching in the Brazilian Amazon: External Capital and Household Processes. World Development, 28(4), 683–699. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0305-750X(99)00149-7