Aldrey Riechel

A package of twelve measures announced by environmental minister Carlos Minc is an attempt to curb illegal deforestation in Amazonia.  The activities include the setting up of working groups, new agencies and responsibilities.  Environmentalists and experts agree that although the measures are comprehensive, they present no deadlines and some have already been launched as part of other 'packages' yet never implemented, nevertheless they may achieve good results.

One of the proposals is to establish an interministerial committee for Combating Deforestation, formed by six ministers, who would meet once every two months to assess actions of the Protection and Anti-Deforestation Program of Amazonia (PPCDAM).  Roberto Smeraldi, Director of Friends of the Earth - Brazilian Amazonia, explains that PPCDAM already had 11 ministers and was coordinated by the president's chief of staff.  "Do you think bringing it down to six will work?"  He asked

WWF-Brazil Public Policies Coordinator Mauro Armelin stresses that although the idea itself is good, as it opens a venue of dialogue on the topic, but warns that putting it into practice may end up being fruitless.  "I don't know if this agency will establish a budget, if there will be evaluations…but if assessments are made every two months, this is better than a yearly evaluation.  It will correct errors while the process is still underway", he commented.

Shared Responsibility

Some of the measures aim at combining activities at the state and federal levels, such as integrating the federal Forest Origin Document (DOF) system to state systems to help curb fraud in the authorization of management plans.  Both Roberto Smeraldi and Mauro Armelin agree that this measure had already been announced years ago.  "It's something fundamental, but it's taking too long ", said Armelin, adding that he considers this measure an intelligent means of combating deforestation.

The "Amazonia Fund", which aims at raising volunteer funds from other countries to combat deforestation, will provide support for the states to do their part.  The government therefore intends to stimulate the preparation of anti-deforestation plans by the states and thus ensure support from the fund for the specific actions of the plans.  Armelin says that the measure is positive, but is something they should have thought of long ago.

He added that responsibilities must be shared and not only depend on federal government activities, and that the states should be held accountable.  "The government needs a structure to monitor and especially to support the states in developing their plans, to avoid making the same mistakes as the federal government".

Access routes for deforestation

A working group is to be formed to ensure conservation in the area surrounding the BR-319 that links Manaus to Porto Velho, which will set up conservation units to ensure that the forest along the highway remains conserved.  Smeraldi questions the measure: "you mean, instead of requiring environmental licensing, they're going to have workshops?"

Marcos Marinani, director of Preserve Amazonia, comments that the only way to control deforestation while enabling development is to use railways.  "If the government is not even able to control the highways that pass by the president's office, there's no way it'll control it in the middle of the Amazon.  We need the reserves, for sure, but this will not avert deforestation", says Marinani.

Effectively establishing units already in the process of being set up or that are awaiting studies to be performed should be the priority, he added.  "Since 2006, the government has not established one single direct-use conservation unit".  Direct-use areas conciliate preservation with sustainable use, establishing a development model specific to the area.

Construction of the BR-319 has been suspended for two months, so an environmental feasibility study can be proposed, involving the federal government, the state governments of Amazonas and Rondônia, federal universities in these states and environmental agencies.

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