Understanding Local Perceptions on Drivers of Deforestation and Policy Instruments for Forest Conservation: A Comparative Analysis of Porto Velho and Manaus

Deforestation and forest degradation in the Brazilian Amazon remain critical threats to ecosystem integrity and local livelihoods. Existing approaches often overlook the nuanced perspectives of different regional actors, limiting our understanding of deforestation drivers and conservation policy effectiveness. This study compared perceptions of deforestation drivers and policy instruments between two major development hubs, Porto Velho and Manaus, using Likert-scale questionnaires administered to 49 villagers and 27 experts. Villagers across both areas identified Natural Disasters (RII = 0.79) and Forest Fires (RII = 0.63) as the most influential drivers, with these ranking particularly high in Porto Velho. Contrastingly, Cattle Ranching Expansion (RII = 0.89) and Political Intervention (RII = 0.86) were prominent in Porto Velho, while Forest Fires (RII = 0.84) and Illegal Logging (RII = 0.73) dominated in Manaus, highlighting distinct governance and economic priorities. Experts and locals both highlighted strong connections between agricultural expansion, land tenure insecurity, and policy deficiency. Conservation units (RII = 0.95) were considered the most important policy instrument according to experts in both areas and governance levels. These results highlight the need for context-specific, participatory solutions tailored to regional realities in Amazonian forest management.