3. Environmental issues in Brazil. Environmental issues in Brazil include deforestation, illegal
wildlife trade, illegal poaching, air, land degradation, and water pollution caused by mining
activities, wetland degradation, pesticide use and severe oil spills, among others. Brazil has
a high concentration of pollution-intensive export industries. Studies point to this as
evidence of Brazil being a pollution haven. The highest of levels of pollution intensity are
found in export-related industries such as metallurgy, paper and cellulose, and footwear.