Correlation Analysis of the Impact of GDP Development and Urbanization Level on the Brazilian Tropical Rainforest

Abstract

The Amazon rainforest in Brazil is one of the most ecologically valuable regions in the world, but it is now facing a severe threat from human activities. To formulate effective sustainable development policies, it is essential to have a deep understanding of how economic development measured by GDP growth and the urbanization process affect the deforestation rate. This paper adopts descriptive analysis methods, combining existing research results and secondary data, to explore the complex and dynamic relationship between these two and deforestation. The research results show that the growth of GDP, especially the economic expansion relying on agricultural and mineral exports, is significantly positively correlated with deforestation in the short term and is one of the main direct driving factors leading to forest loss. Meanwhile, the impact of urbanization is dual: on the one hand, it indirectly increases ecological pressure by promoting resource consumption; On the other hand, with the economic structural transformation brought about by urbanization and the enhancement of public environmental awareness, it may also promote forest protection in the long term. These impacts are not fixed but depend on policy choices, governance levels and whether the decoupling of economic growth from environmental damage can be achieved. A thorough understanding of these dynamic processes is of great significance for Brazil and even the world in addressing climate change and protecting biodiversity.