Follow the Money: Environmental Crimes and Illicit Economic Activities in Brazilian Amazon Production Chains

In 2022, according to the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), the Brazilian Amazon experienced 11,594 square kilometers of deforestation, a reduction of just over 11% from the previous year. Much of this deforestation stems from illegal activities driven by sophisticated national and transnational criminal networks that span various economic sectors, from logging to mining, land speculation, and environmental crimes, including illicit practices in the livestock sector. It is critical to note that even companies operating within formal markets are not shielded from these illegal activities. The shadow economies in the Amazon function through a complex network of actors, covering both environmental and non-environmental issues such as corruption, fraud, money laundering, violent crime, and various types of trafficking.

Environmental crime in the Amazon is invariably driven by the financial gain it promises those who commit it. Economic illicit activities not only make these environmental offenses possible but also ensure that the profits are efficiently secured. The Igarapé Institute is dedicated to investigating the intricate connections between environmental crimes and related illegal activities in the Amazon.

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