The so-called forest code pits the powerful farming lobby, which wants to ensure that farmers can plant as they see fit on their land, against environmentalists and much of Brazilian society who want landowners who cleared vast swathes of forest illegally to be held accountable.
In all, Rousseff vetoed 12 articles in the law, one of the most controversial pieces of legislation to pass Brazil's Congress in recent years.
Rousseff must now send the bill back to Congress, which could override her vetoes with an absolute majority, meaning over 50 percent of the membership.
Agriculture is a major source of both employment and economic growth, with the country a major producer and exporter of soybeans, sugar, coffee, cotton, oranges and ethanol made from sugarcane.
Green campaigners oppose making changes to the existing land use laws, arguing a new law will let landowners off the hook after clearing vast swathes of land illegally over decades, including in the ecologically rich Amazon rainforest.
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