Law No. 12.651, of May 25, 2012, which establishes the Brazilian Forestry Code.

Brazil's Law No. 12,651, known as the New Forest Code, establishes general rules on the protection of native vegetation, permanent preservation areas and legal reserves. It regulates forest exploration, the supply of forest raw materials, the control of the origin of forest products and the prevention of forest fires. The law includes economic and financial instruments to achieve its objectives, such as payments for environmental services and environmental compensation mechanisms. It seeks to reconcile environmental preservation with sustainable economic development. It also creates the Rural Environmental Cadastre (CAR) and regulates the regularization of rural properties.