Land Use and Land Cover Transition in Brazil and Their Effects on Greenhouse Gas Emissions

Abstract Changes in natural environments caused by human activities through land use and land cover changes (LUCC) have increased during the last three centuries. LUCC is a key sector of climate change, and it is responsible for an important amount of greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. Agriculture, Forestry, and Other Land Use (AFOLU) activities were responsible for ~ 10–12 Gt CO 2 eq yr − 1 of anthropogenic GHG emissions mainly from deforestation and agricultural emissions. In Brazil, due to a rise in forest clearing, total gross emissions have increased over the 2014–2015 period. This chapter aims to: (i) explore the impact of the LUCC on the soil components and structures, (ii) assess the LUCC effects on GHG emissions, (iii) review the history of LUCC in Brazil from 2000 to present days, and (iv) assess the role of LUCC in Brazil in the global framework of GHG emissions.