Frequently asked questions
What is Floresta 250 – Cattle?
Floresta 250 – Cattle is a data offering from Global Canopy, supported by do Pasto ao Prato, that assesses the performance of key players in Brazil’s cattle supply chains. It identifies the 175 companies and 75 financial institutions with the greatest influence on Brazilian deforestation driven by cattle supply chains, including both beef and leather, and assesses them on the strength and implementation of their commitments on deforestation, ecosystem conversion and associated human rights abuses.
Why is Floresta 250 – Cattle needed?
When it comes to global deforestation and linked greenhouse gas emissions, cattle is the single most influential commodity, and Brazil the most significant country of production. With just 12% of cattle-producing municipalities accounting for 95% of Brazil’s cattle-related deforestation, there is a clear opportunity for targeted action. Our assessment data shines a light on the critical gaps in company and financial institution action, highlighting the crucial next steps for these organisations and their stakeholders.
How do you define deforestation and ecosystem conversion?
Floresta 250 – Cattle uses the definitions of deforestation (including zero-net and zero-gross deforestation) and ecosystem conversion (including zero-net and zero-gross conversion), as defined by the Accountability Framework initiative. While deforestation specifically refers to the loss of natural forests, conversion extends to any change from a natural ecosystem to any other land use. The full definitions used can be found on the Accountability Framework initiative’s website.
Who funds Floresta 250 – Cattle?
In 2024, Floresta 250 – Cattle was generously supported by the Bezos Earth Fund, and in 2025 by Climate Arc. Our partner initiative, do Pasto ao Prato, receives support from the Norwegian Embassy in Brasília.
All selection methodologies, data collection and analysis were undertaken entirely independently by Global Canopy and the do Pasto ao Prato initiative. Similarly, all performance assessment methodologies, data collection and analysis were conducted independently by Global Canopy, ensuring the integrity and impartiality of the results.
How are the Floresta 250 – Cattle organisations selected?
Global Canopy identified the 175 companies with the greatest influence on Brazilian cattle supply chains based on their exposure to beef and leather, and the 75 financial institutions with the greatest influence on those companies.
Have the organisations identified been directly linked to causing deforestation?
The companies and financial institutions included in the Floresta 250 – Cattle have significant influence over the production and processing of beef and leather that drive deforestation through their supply chains and financing activities. Through those activities, they are at significant risk of driving deforestation, conversion of natural ecosystems and the associated human rights abuses, and need to set and implement policies to prevent this from happening.
How are the Floresta 250 – Cattle organisations assessed?
What is assessed?
The organisations are assessed on the strength and implementation of their commitments on deforestation, ecosystem conversion and associated human rights abuses.
The assessments use solely publicly available information: any information that was available on the company or financial institutions’ website(s) at the time of the assessment period is incorporated into their assessment.
What if the companies and financial institutions have commitments but don’t publish them on their websites?
We believe that it is crucial that commitments and policies are made available online, so that all stakeholders can assess their robustness and hold powerbrokers accountable for their commitments and influence.
What measures are taken to ensure assessments are impartial?
All assessment methodologies and data collection are undertaken fully independently by Global Canopy. Global Canopy’s assessments are firewalled from any external parties.
What Floresta 250 – Cattle data is available?
Is the data available to download?
Yes. You can download the data and 2025 scores from the data and methods page.
How can I get in touch with Floresta 250 – Cattle?
How can I get in touch if I have questions on an assessment of a company or financial institution?
If you have any questions on specific assessments or our methodologies in general, please email the Floresta 250 – Cattle team at [email protected].
How can I get in touch with a press enquiry?
If you have a press enquiry, please reach out to our Communications team:
Tel: +44 (0)1865 724333
Email: [email protected]
How can I get in touch with feedback?
If you have any feedback or for any other information, please reach out to us via our contact form.
How can I solve deforestation?
Is it possible to solve deforestation?
Yes, deforestation is a solvable crisis. To achieve zero deforestation, governments, the private sector and civil society must work together to bring about change. Financial institutions should not be financing deforestation in their portfolios and need policies to ensure they are deforestation free. They are uniquely placed to influence companies to shift their practices towards becoming deforestation-free. Their capital gives them leverage over the companies they finance. The finance sector can take a lead in driving change.
Is there data and a path to fight deforestation?
The data around deforestation is the strongest in the nature space. There is already sufficient data for financial institutions to identify the most significant deforestation risks in their portfolio. Tools like the Finance Sector Roadmap and Roteiro de Finanças Livres de Desmatamento, which is customised with information specific to the cattle sector in Brazil, are part of that process.
