Division of Par threatens Conservation Units

Written by Kelem Cabral Tuesday, 29 November 2011 13:33

On December 11th a referendum will be held with the population of the state of Pars on whether to divide the state in three new ones or not breaking it into Par, Tapajs and Carajs. If the division is approved, three new possibilities of economic autonomy will be made available and the new geography created will emerge as a serious threat to the integrity of the regions protected areas and to its biodiversity.

Par is the second largest state of Brazil. More than 74 million hectares, about 60% of its 1.247.689,515 km, are protected areas, classified as Conservation Units (UCs), integral protection areas (that can not be inhabited by man) and of sustainable use (that allows the sustainable use of the area by local residents). Thanks to these numbers, Par is the state with the largest area of UCs in the Brazilian Amazon, although the advance of deforestation. Changing this scenario could be a cause for concern. Conservation Units by state State % territory % Conservation Units Tapajs Carajs* 59% 24% 76% 7,5%

1/3

Division of Par threatens Conservation Units

Written by Kelem Cabral Tuesday, 29 November 2011 13:33

Par* *

17%

3,5%

The Environmental Protection Area (APA) of Maraj, which is con

Besides the geographical rearrangements, the autonomy as to the legislation of each state in relation to the regional UCs that, alone, occupy 10.71% of Par as it stands now, needs to be taken into account. Once divided in three, these regions would be at the mercy of new legislators. Protected Areas in the Brazilian Amazon: advances and challenges The concern surrounding the decrease or even disintegration of the UCs is not mere speculation, states the lawyer Girolamo Treccani, former chief adviser of the Institute of Lands in Par (Iterpa). "Under the legislation, all UCs could be modified as long as the regional and federal bills are submitted and approved by the concerning bodies."

Far beyond the legal sphere, there is a development model that historically has been carried out in the region and under that, says Treccani, threats to PAs may be intensified due to the new states needs of extending the occupation and agricultural frontiers. The APA Triunfo do Xing, for instance, would be split between Tapajs and Carajs. It would be one of the first targets among the newborn states, due to the advance of deforestation and to the lack of significant legal protection. The red alert would as well extend to two regional forests, the Flotas Faro and Trombetas. "These two areas are close to the lands of the National Institute of Colonization and Agrarian Reform (Incra), which are intended for agriculture, and due to its geophysical characteristics, are favourable to agribusiness. The [state of] Tapajs could claim lack of areas for its development", predicts Treccani. The giant Tapajs

If the division takes place, the new state Tapajs would come to concentrate 76% of all UCs. O He believes Tapajs has the potential to replicate the model implemented in Costa Rica, which Professor Dr. Gilberto Rocha, general director of the Centre for the Environment of the Federal

2/3

Division of Par threatens Conservation Units

Written by Kelem Cabral Tuesday, 29 November 2011 13:33

3/3