Forest fire detection systems cover the entire country. This initiative could help fill Brazil’s gap in economic valuation of biodiversity and build consensus on the benefits of maintaining functioning ecosystems. This, in turn, would contribute to raising the political and social support that is needed to mainstream biodiversity effectively in the development agenda. There has been a gradual shift from a strict fence-and-protect and enforcement approach to a sustainable development approach that identifies biodiversity priority regions and recognises the role of rural, traditional and indigenous communities in maintaining the provision of ecosystem services.