Published on January 30, 2026 – Updated on January 30, 2026

Claudio Araujo and José Gustavo Féres study the repercussions of illegal exploitation of forests and minerals on Amazonian communities.

Claudio Araujo, researcher at the CERDI and the Université Clermont Auvergne, and José Gustavo Féres, researcher at the IPEA and at the Gétulio Vargas Foundation in Rio de Janeiro, are conducting a project on environmental resources in Brazil. They are exploring the development of illegal logging and mining in Amazonia and the consequences for local communities. 

This project is two-fold: 

Illegal exploitation of the forest

The first fold is dedicated to forest economics and the impact of illegal logging from Brazilian Amazonia. Indeed, commercial flows have increased substantially since the relaxation of export restrictions in March 2020. A large part of this additional export is suspected to come from protected areas. Claudio Araujo and José Gustavo Féres show a 10.5% increase in illegal logging since. 

Illegal mining

The second fold of this project is focused on the socio-economic impact of illegal mining facilities. Illegal sites on indigenous land and protected areas are growing in number. They are causing an increase in malaria and malnutrition cases, and also, more tensions and pressure on land. The team analyses in minute detail the impacts on public health and also criminality. 


This week, they met with Pierre Biscaye (UCA, CERDI) to talk about the first results of the study and explore next steps. They will also work with Olivier Santoni, who is in charge of geodata management and cartography at the CERDI. 



 

A sustainable professional relationship 

José Gustavo Féres has been a visiting professor at the School of Economics of the Université Clermont Auvergne, for several years, where he gives classes on social and development issues. He and Claudio Araujo have been working together for years. 

They conducted a study on the relationship between deforestation in Amazonia and the diversification of farmers' activities and income, which was published in Environment and Development Economics in 2019. 

More recently, they published an article on the release of logging export entitled:  "Passando a boiada: Efeitos da suspensão da inspeção de exportações de produtos de madeira nativa”, RADAR: tecnologia, produção e comércio exterior. Brasília, DF: Ipea, n. 75, abr. 2024. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.38116/radar75art4. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QATszRPZpG8.

 

Photo : Serene Amazon Rainforest with Lush Greenery Reflected in River. Jean Gc. Pexels