Number of fines paid for environmental violations in Brazilian Amazon drops by 93% in 2020

RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – In 2019 and 2020, the average number of lawsuits with fines for violations related to vegetation in the states of Barazil’s Legal Amazon decreased by 93%.

The data are part of a study conducted by the Center for Remote Sensing and the Laboratory of Environmental Management of the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG).

The researchers show that changes in the Ministry of Environment’s internal rules and legislation between 2019 and 2020 hindered the work of field inspectors and the internal progress of processes related to the investigation of environmental violations, such as irregular logging.

Since 2019, President Bolsonaro has faced criticism in Brazil and abroad in light of the explosion of forest fires and deforestation in the Amazon.

To combat environmental violations, the government relies on military operations – but the armed forces do not impose sanctions on those who deforest or conduct irregular burns. Despite the troops, forest devastation remains high, at the highest rate in 12 years.

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