Removal of vegetation in the state of Mato Grosso: a perspective based on the actions of IBAMA between 1998 and 2016

The State of Mato Grosso in the Midwest region of Brazil has, in recent decades, become the main area of agricultural production in the country. By positioning itself as the new agricultural frontier, the state has instigated a constant conflict between agriculture and environmental protection. In this context, this study briefly discusses and analyzes deforestation in the region based on data on sanctions issued by the Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis (Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources; IBAMA), the Brazilian environmental regulatory and inspection agency, between 1998 and 2016. Annual vegetation removal reached its highest values in 2003 and 2004 (1,109 km2) and then decreased from 2005 to 2008 (4,353 km2) before stabilizing at the lowest level between 2009 and 2016 (1,138 km2).