Comércio internacional de recursos naturais na Amazônia: uma análise econômica e ambiental

Abstract

This study analyzes the dynamics of international trade and the use of natural resources, focusing on the economic and environmental implications for the Amazon region. The Amazon, characterized by its vast forest expanse and abundance of natural resources, plays a central role in the Brazilian economy, especially in terms of exports. However, the intensification of international trade within a globalized context has generated significant pressures on these resources, leading to socioeconomic and environmental impacts that require in-depth analysis. The research was conducted through a quantitative approach, employing econometric techniques to investigate the relationships between natural resource exports, such as soy and minerals, and regional Gross Domestic Product (GDP), as well as to assess the correlation between economic growth and deforestation in the Legal Amazon. The analysis was grounded in the Export Base Theory and the principles of environmental economics, providing an integrated view of the interactions between international trade and the environment. The results indicate a positive and significant relationship between natural resource exports and regional GDP, confirming the initial hypothesis for the soy and mineral sectors with fixed-effects models and logarithmic regressions. Furthermore, the study reveals that economic growth in the Legal Amazon can be compatible with a reduction in deforestation, demonstrating a significant negative relationship between GDP and deforestation rates. These findings provide a robust empirical basis for the formulation of public policies that promote sustainable economic development in the region, enhancing positive impacts on the economy while mitigating the negative effects resulting from intensive natural resource use. Thus, the research contributes to the literature on international trade, environmental economics, and regional development, offering guidelines for future studies and the implementation of policies that integrate economic growth and environmental sustainability.

Keywords: exports; natural resources; Gross Domestic Product; Amazon; econometrics; environmental economics.