Understanding land tenure-related risks: A case study for Brazil

To better understand Land Tenure-Related Risks in a country, such as Brazil, it
is necessary to have a standardized framework to identify and quantify the risks
associated with land ownership and potential changes in domain due to disputed claims so that they do not affect or disrupt global supply chains. The proposed approach is essential because insecure land tenure acts as a primary driver of financial loss, legal instability, and social conflict. By identifying overlapping tenure claims – and potentially non-compliant producers — the methodology allows stakeholders to move from reactive crisis management to proactive risk mitigation, ensuring that international trade remains both legally compliant and socially responsible.
The practical application of the results of the assessment serves three distinct
pillars of society. For the private sector, it provides a mechanism to protect
investments, as land disputes can devalue projects and cause severe eputational
damage. For the public sector, it offers a strategic tool for efficient land governance and the enforcement of environmental regulations. Finally, for civil society, the framework increases the visibility of traditional and vulnerable communities, reducing the likelihood of forced evictions and human rights violations by identifying high-risk areas before conflicts escalate.
Moving forward, the research advocates for the creation of dynamic, real-time
monitoring systems rather than static assessments. By integrating complex SQL
processing routines with automated API links to government cadastral systems and satellite imagery, the framework can evolve into a Monitoring Platform of land tenure status. This technological advancement could enable near-instantaneous alerts for illegal deforestation or changes in land tenure, allowing the system to adapt immediately to new commercial standards, environmental laws, and changing geopolitical landscapes.