Invasions attract the attention of landowners campaigning for changes to the limits of the park and loggers who are already operating inside the park

The Cristalino State Park - a 184,900-hectare conservation area renowned throughout the world for its rich biodiversity - is about to be invaded by landless rural workers. The number of people camped on the park's boundaries has not yet been confirmed but is estimated at between 125 and 1,000.

The park is located in the north of Mato Grosso, close to the border with Para, between the Teles Pires river and the Cuiaba-Santarem highway. It was created in 1998 and expanded in 2000. It protects five different ecosystems, including terra firme forest, seasonal forest and floodplains. 515 species of birds have been found in the park, 50 of which are endemic. The park is also home to 43 reptile species, 29 amphibian species, 36 types of mammal and 16 fish species.

"There are people - landowners and local authorities - who have an interest in revising the limits of the park, using the landless rural workers to create a conflict situation", said Gilney Viana, secretary of sustainable development at the Ministry of the Environment, who is from Mato Grosso. "It is unacceptable. Cristalino is an important conservation area and we cannot condone its occupation or the illegal exploitation of its resources".

In 2002, the state government tried to change the limits of the park in the interests of local farmers who had become to cultivate crops inside the park, alleging that they had traditionally occupied the area. At least 3,000 hectares of forest was cleared in 2002, which when added to the 18,900 hectares of altered vegetation makes up 10.2% of the area of the park. The doubts over who actually owns the land have resulted in a court case which has still not been resolved.

The Brazilian environment agency, IBAMA, has identified five logging areas inside the park. An IBAMA helicopter was shot at as it flew over one of these areas.

It is alleged that the landless rural workers who are poised to occupy the park have been promised lots in return for registering as voters in the municipality of Novo Mundo.

Yesterday, the Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, announced a new plan to combat illegal logging in Amazonia. The government will invest R$ 100 million in the plan in the next 12 months. The plan will operate in 40 municipalities, including Novo Mundo.

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