After a year of deploying the Armed Forces to fight against deforestation in the Amazon, the federal government decided to withdraw the military from the region as of May 1 and limit enforcement to 11 cities in four states. Data shows that deforestation increased in the Amazon forest.
Vice President Hamilton Mourão made the announcement on Wednesday (10). Mourão chairs the Amazon Council, responsible for coordinating ministries' activities in the environmental area in nine states.
According to the vice president, after a transition period between April 15 and 30, the inspection will be carried out with Ibama, ICMBio, Funai, Incra's own staff, in addition to the Federal Police and the Federal Highway.
"Throughout this operation that we have been carrying out since May last year, we have found that 70% of deforestation or environmental crimes occur in 11 municipalities," said Mourão, who will continue to preside over the council in this new phase.
Translated by Kiratiana Freelon