Evaluation implementation of the Code

Published by Apremavi on February 7, 2014

Representatives of WWF-Brazil, Conservation International, SOS Atlantic Forest Foundation, The Nature Conservancy, the IPAM, the Atlantic Forest NGO Network, the Parliamentary Front Environmentalist, Green Initiative and the Association for the Preservation of the Environment and Life (Apremavi) met in Brasilia on February 6, 2014 to discuss the prospects and realities in the implementation and effectiveness of the new Forest Code in Brazil. Organizations are part of the  Center’s Forest Code , established in 2013 to monitor the implementation of the new law.

From the reports of those present on the new code implementation process in the states, it is clear that there are difficulties in the implementation, including to give concrete recommendations on the procedures that should be taken. A major problem is with the National Rural Environmental Registry System (SICAR), which has different running state levels to state.

In São Paulo the SICAR is being implemented since June 2013, having been carried out 2000 entries from farms to date. However, just as in Rio de Janeiro technicians are awaiting the views of the Ministry of the Environment stating that the system can be implemented. Roberta del Giudicem, the BVRio says that many are afraid to act in illegality, so await the publication of the decree regulating the system.

In Pará there are already working groups within the Green Initiative Municipalities with an agenda to have the Environmental Regularization Program (PRA) approved. Francisco Fonseca, of TNC, realize that there is political will for regulation, but the states are still many technical difficulties.

João de Deus Medeiros of Apremavi, recalls that in Santa Catarina the situation is quite alarming, as has recently been approved and sanctioned the update law of the State Environmental Code and which is opposed to other environmental laws in the country, including unconstitutional and hampers the effectiveness of systems such as SICAR.

André Lima, IPAM, stressed that states should not sit idly by waiting for the federal decree for the implementation of the SICAR and realization of the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR).

The representative of the Ministry of Environment (MMA), Raimundo Deusdará Son, who attended the meeting at the request of the Center, said that the MMA understands that the deadline for implementation of the system (one year from the publication of the new law) has been fulfilled by union with the PRA’s regulatory decree (Decree No. 7.830 / 2012) and the deadline for accession of states to Sychar shall run from the publication of the decree and normative instruction due out in February this year. Deusdará account that meanwhile the MMA has been working in the system enhancement in addition to being developing a website to capture all PRA initiatives that are already running in Brazil.

Meanwhile the  Observatory  prepares a broad national seminar to evaluate the two years of the new code approval. The seminar held in May, probably on the Atlantic.

On the implementation of the Forest Code, Apremavi will soon be able to carry out registrations in the CAR to partner properties of projects that the institution runs.

For those interested in learning how to apply the new Forest Code was released one guide with guidelines that can be  accessed here.