Supreme Court Justice Overturns Ricardo Salles' Decision to Remove Protection from Sandbanks and Mangroves

Lawsuit filed in Supreme Court by the Sustainability Network

São Paulo

Justice Rosa Weber, of the STF (Supreme Federal Court), granted an injunction overturning the decision of the Environment Minister, Ricardo Salles, which allowed the exploration of mangroves and sandbanks in the country.

Brazil's Environment Minister Ricardo Salles speaks next to Brazil's Vice President Hamilton Mourao. REUTERS/Adriano Machado ORG XMIT: GGGAHM01 - REUTERS

The lawsuit was filed by the Sustainability Network, which argued that Salles' measure was unconstitutional. It is now suspended pending judgment of the merits of the matter by the court's plenary.

"It was the wide-open cattle to irreversibly destroy mangroves and sandbanks across the country. Today is a day of environmental victory over the cattle of Salles", says Senator Randolfe Rodrigues (Rede-AP).

He makes reference to the minister's phrase said in a meeting with President Jair Bolsonaro in which he stated that it is necessary to take advantage of the crisis caused by the coronavirus to lower environmental standards that would go unnoticed.

Translated by Kiratiana Freelon

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