Amazon on Alert

For a Multidimensional and Sustainable Security

Abstract

The Brazilian Legal Amazon faces a scenario of multidimensional insecurity, marked by the convergence of environmental crimes, armed violence, institutional fragility, and the absence of sustainable economic alternatives. This article analyzes, based on empirical data, case studies, and official reports, the main drivers of illegal deforestation in the region, including land grabbing, illegal mining, cattle ranching with irregularities in its supply chain, and money laundering. From this diagnosis, the article proposes a response model grounded in the articulation of command-andcontrol strategies, regional and international cooperation mechanisms, protection of environmental defenders, and the strengthening of green finance. It argues that targeted law enforcement, when combined with policies of productive inclusion and climate justice, may offer more effective pathways to contain criminality and strengthen forest governance. Finally, it advocates for the adoption of an integrated public security policy, with territorial focus and intersectoral approach, capable of addressing the Amazon’s multiple challenges from a State-centered perspective.