“This Can’t Be an Accident” Says Federal Police Detective on Pantanal Fires in Brazil

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – Documents and farmers’ cell phones in Mato Grosso do Sul were seized by the Federal Police’s ‘Matáá’ Operation, which was launched on Monday.

The aim of the operation is to investigate the patch burns that are devouring the Pantanal, the world’s largest wetland biome. The Federal Police find evidence of deliberate patch burns for grazing areas where native forest used to be.

“The fires started in farms in the region, in inhospitable areas within the farms, where there is nothing nearby, which leads us to believe that this can’t be an accident. Theoretically, someone was there for that (to set fire),” detective Alan Givigi said.

“The fire in this case would be to patch burn the native forest for grazing. Since it can’t be deforested, because it is a protected area, fire is set and the pasturage is increased, without raising suspicion,” he added.

The investigation found that almost 25,000 hectares of the approximately 815,000 of the Pantanal have already been devastated by fire this year. By early Monday evening, four out of ten search and seizure warrants were officially served, two in the capital Campo Grande, and another two in Corumbá, where the actions are concentrated. The remaining six warrants are in the rural area of Corumbá, on properties where satellite imagery identified the origin of the fire.

With the seizures, investigators aim to further deepen the enquiries. The names of the farmers have not been disclosed. The suspects may be held accountable for the crimes of damage to the permanent preservation forest (Art. 38 of Law 9.605/98), direct and indirect damage to Conservation Units (Art. 40 of Law 9.605/98), arson (Art. 41 of Law 9.605/98) and pollution (Art. 54 of Law 9.605/98).

During the proceedings in the urban area home of one of the rural owners in Corumbá, the Federal Police found and seized weapons and ammunition with restricted use. The farmer was arrested in the act for illegal possession of a firearm. Two pistols were seized, a revolver, 108 rounds of ammunition of allowed caliber, and 44 of restricted caliber.

Source: UOL