The number of fines for deforestation and other infractions in the Amazon region, in the first quarter of 2023, increased by 219%, compared to the average for the same period from 2019 to 2022. Data are from the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Natural Resources Renewables (IBAMA).
In addition to the fines, seizures of goods and products related to environmental violations, which increased by 133%, and the number of property embargoes, which grew by 93%, in the same period. Ibama points out that these measures decapitalize offenders and prevent them from obtaining bank financing, in addition to restricting trade in illegal products.
If only the operations carried out against the invaders of the Yanomami indigenous territory, located in the states of Amazonas and Roraima, are observed, since February 6 to date, Ibama has destroyed 285 camps of miners, eight aircraft, 23 boats, three tractors and 124 engines. Also seized were 21,000 liters of fuel, 22 tons of cassiterite ore, 5 kg of mercury, among other logistical support equipment for illegal mining.
Throughout Brazil, the institute’s environmental assessments increased by 78%, from January to March this year, in relation to the same interval of months, in the previous four years.
Ibama justifies that the increases in fines, seizures of goods and products and property embargoes occurred due to the resumption of attributions of the federal government’s environmental agency and the command of the fight against deforestation by the environmental area.
