When administrative sanctions fail: land embargoes have not been enough to curb illegal deforestation in Mato Grosso, Brazil

Despite intensified sanctions efforts, illegal deforestation in Mato Grosso, Brazil, remains widespread. This study analyzes over 820,000 hectares embargoed for environmental violations between 2008 and 2021, revealing that most embargoed areas continue to be used for farming (agricultural and cattle production), undermining the effectiveness of command-and-control measures. The persistence of economic exploitation, even after re-embargoes, highlights systemic weaknesses in enforcement and market compliance. Factors such as supply chain fraud, legislative leniency, and political pressure contribute to ongoing deforestation. The study emphasizes the need for continuous monitoring and integration of law enforcement with market-based instruments, including rural credit restrictions and traceability tools. It also calls for alignment between federal and regional policies to avoid legal uncertainty. Our findings underscore the urgency of strengthening mechanisms for law enforcement and advancing the implementation of economic and market-based instruments capable of curbing illegal deforestation.