Public policy and deforestation in Amazonia

In contrast with the causes of deforestation in Africa and Asia, the growing population size does not seem to be a major explanatory factor in Brazil. According to Bilsborrow and Ogendo (1992), the average land area available to an economically active person in agriculture in Brazil in fact increased, from 2.4 hectares in 1965 to 5.7 hectares in 1987.