Environmental Ministry: Budget Cuts Force Suspension of Operations Against Deforestation, Burnings

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – On Friday, August 28th, the Ministry of the Environment announced that as of Monday, August 31st, all operations to fight illegal deforestation in the Amazon and patch burning in the Pantanal will be suspended.

According to the note, the suspension is prompted by a financial blockade determined by the Federal Budget Secretariat in funds of the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio).

According to the note, R$20.9 million from Ibama and R$39.7 million from ICMBio were blocked. The Ministry states that these R$60.6 million “are added to the cut of another R$120 million already planned as a budget cut in the environment area for the year 2021.”

The Ministry stated that, in relation to the fight against illegal deforestation, the following activities will be suspended:

• 77 inspectors, 48 vehicles and two helicopters from IBAMA;
• 324 inspectors from ICMBio.

In relation to patch burning, the following will be demobilized:

• 1,346 firefighters, 86 pickup trucks, ten trucks, and four IBAMA helicopters;
• 459 firefighters, and ten Air Tractor aircraft of ICMBio.

According to the Ministry’s note, information on the blocking of funds was conveyed by Esteves Colnago, head of the Ministry of Economy’s special advisory. The decision for this freeze would have been made by the Government Secretariat and the Presidential Chief of Staff.

Source: G1