Mine licensing helps fight deforestation

Environment Minister Izabella Teixeira reiterated Wednesday (Jan 14) the need for the federal government to support states in the environmental licensing of mines, as “illegal activities have financed the deforestation of the Amazon Forest.” According to Teixeira, the problem is under investigation by the intelligence system of the Federal Police.

A study conducted by researchers from the University of Puerto Rico, published in the journal Environmental Research Letters, show that gold mining has led to the loss of 183 km² of local vegetation between the rivers Tapajós and Xingu, in the state of Pará, north Brazil.

“In Pará alone, close to 3 thousand mining areas lack an environmental licence,” the minister said in Rio de Janeiro, at the inauguration ceremony of the state's new environment secretary. She went on to note that, under Brazilian law, the environmental licensing of mines falls under the responsibility of the state government.

According to Teixeira, the government of Pará has already proved its willingness to offer support. “Licensing is the best tool for organizing [the activity], along with the division [of the territory] into zones,” she explained.

The minister argues that prospecting is an economically acknowledged activity in the country, “as long as it's legal. I think there's a huge effort to separate the wheat from the chaff. Those who hold [a licence] have all the environmental prerogatives, and they also benefit from restoration programs aimed at damaged areas.”

Translated by Fabrício Ferreira