If forests were a country they would rank as the third largest global emitters of CO2 due to deforestation. At the same time, forests provide other vital ecosystem services, protecting us from natural disasters. For many, they are the foundations of their livelihoods. Protecting tropical forests is critical for our planet and for our prosperity. I have advanced novel arguments that demonstrate that productivity, especially in cities, is critical for lowering deforestation pressures while fostering prosperity.

My work has focused on the Brazilian Amazon. It has shaped the World Bank's country strategy for Brazil, contributed to the Brazilian government's Ecological Transformation Plan, and was picked up in the IMF's 2025 Article IV consultation for Brazil. It has been featured in The Economist, The New York Times, Bloomberg, Mongabay, the Guardian, CNN Brasil,  O Globo, Estadão, Valor Econômico, El Pais, Deutsche Welle, and Project Syndicate.  

It has been further developed by other researchers, even beyond Brazil, and is being operationalized by the Interamerican Development Bank and the World Bank.