Forest Code in Sao Paulo: obstacles and perspectives of environmental legislation in the state

The Environmental Regularization Program (PRA), the Urban Areas of Permanent Preservation (APPs), prevention for the lack of water and the Cerrado situation were the most recurrent themes in the debate on the Forest Code in the State of São Paulo. The event was held by the Movement More Forests PRA São Paulo, this Thursday, October 20, in São Paulo.

In the discussion agenda were also the implications of the direct action of unconstitutionality (Adin), proposed by prosecutors suspending the law that regulates the Forest Code in the state of São Paulo – State Law 15,684 / 15. Some environmental organizations believe that this action is a good opportunity to correct the weaknesses of the State of PRA.

The meeting Gerd Sparovek (ESALQ / USP), Ciça Wey de Brito (Alliance for Water) and Roberto Resende (Green Initiative). The event lasted two hours, gathering an audience of about 70 people.

In his speech, Sparovek talked about the importance of proposing criteria for implementation of the PRA in Sao Paulo, citing the need for a survey on the state of vegetation cover in the state. About Adin, he believes that the law may fall, which would, in his view, positive. But if it does not, it argues that questioned points are corrected. “That do not go for the cheapest solution, but necessary,” he concludes.

Roberto Resende, the Green Initiative, an organization that is part of the Center’s Forest Code (OCF), reiterated that the Legislative Assembly of São Paulo do not have a draft law dealing with the implementation of the Forest Code in urban areas. He also asked: “What is the solution for urban APP Nobody talks about it?.”

Ciça Wey de Brito, the Alliance for Water, said that when we talk about recovering “forests”, left side of vegetation, such as the Cerrado. She says the Cerrado has been deforested for longer than is believed, complicating their recovery. The possibility of amnesty to this deforestation worries.

The issue of water in São Paulo was also remembered by panelist: “If we do not have forest (vegetation), a satisfactory environmental condition, we will not have the amount of water we need.”

In the event, much was made of urban APP and how it is being neglected, even by the mayors. Among the consensus, the we take charge of governing this regulation and that civil society has an important role to press and charging advances in question.

Campaign

The event also marks the launch of a digital campaign designed to explain to society the Environmental Regularization Program, one of the mechanisms of the Forest Code.

The videos were made in partnership with the Center of the Forest Code. The goal is to show society through an accessible language, the importance of the Forest Code and its instruments such as the Environmental Regularization Program and CAR, emphasizing how they affect the daily lives of all.

The animations will consider topics such as forest and water; APPs urban; Thick; export of forest and amnesty to loggers; Economic instruments and PRA.

Check our channel YouTube. Click  here.