Mato Grosso, the second state with the highest level of accumulated deforestation since 1988 —after Pará — among the nine federation units that make up the Legal Amazon, may officially leave the area and, as a consequence, increase deforestation even more. This is the forecast of a proposal currently being discussed in Congress.
The project is authored by federal deputy Juarez Costa (MDB-MT), who is seeking reelection.
The Legal Amazon is a concept created in 1953 and covers 59% of the Brazilian territory with its nine states. It is in this region that 56% of the indigenous population of the country resides.
Costa wants to remove Mato Grosso from the Legal Amazon because the legislation defines that rural properties must keep a greater part of the native vegetation as a legal reserve when they are within the limits of that region.
Translated by Cassy Dias