Posts Supporting Anti-Environmental Policy in Brazil are Shared More on Social Media.

Area of Science:

• Environmental Science
• Ecology
• Science Communication

Background:

• Disinformation campaigns are weakening environmental laws in Brazil, impacting biodiversity and natural resource management.
• The "firefighter cattle" narrative, suggesting cattle reduce wildfire risk, gained prominence during the 2020 Pantanal fires and influenced policy.
• This argument supports agribusiness interests by promoting extensive livestock farming in protected areas, disregarding ecological impacts.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the social repercussions and online spread of the "firefighter cattle" disinformation.
• To understand how misinformation influences public opinion and policy related to environmental protection.
• To advocate for evidence-based policymaking and the use of scientific resources to counter pseudoscience.

Main Methods:

• Analysis of public reactions and interactions on social media platforms (YouTube, Facebook) and Google News.
• Content analysis of posts discussing the "firefighter cattle" concept, categorizing them as supportive or critical.
• Evaluation of engagement metrics (shares, interactions) for supportive versus critical content.

Main Results:

• Posts supporting the "firefighter cattle" narrative achieved greater social media reach and engagement than critical posts.
• Despite widespread disagreement, the "firefighter cattle" concept went viral, demonstrating the power of misinformation in shaping public discourse.
• The disinformation was effectively used to bolster anti-environmental policies and justify extensive livestock farming.

Conclusions:

• Misinformation, like the "firefighter cattle" narrative, can significantly influence public perception and undermine environmental policies.
• Government institutions must prioritize scientific evidence, utilizing resources from bodies like IPBES and IPCC, to inform public awareness campaigns.
• Combating pseudoscience in political discourse is crucial to protect natural resources and prevent societal confusion regarding environmental issues.