This has been one of the priorities since his return to power. Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva presented a new plan to combat illegal deforestation in the Amazon on Monday (June 5).
“Brazil, especially thanks to the Amazon forest, has a great importance in the climatic balance of the planet […], preventing the deforestation of the Amazon is also helping to reduce global warming,” said Lula during a reception at the presidential palace in Brasilia.
This plan marks the return of the theme as a “priority, after four in indifference and abandonment”, he added, on the occasion of World Environment Day. The left-wing president, accompanied in particular by his Minister of the Environment Marina Silva, then referred to the mandate of the former far-right leader Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022), during which the average annual deforestation increased by 75 % compared to the previous decade.
The program announced by Lula resumes the one created in 2004 during his first presidency (2003-2006), but put on hold by Jair Bolsonaro. Lula, back in power since January, has made environmental protection one of his priorities, and wants to see Brazil become a global example by reducing its greenhouse gas emissions and ending the illegal deforestation by 2030.
The presentation of the plan, however, comes a week after the conservative Congress dealt several blows to Lula and his agenda on the matter. The Ministry of the Environment saw its competences in the cadastre of rural lands – essential lever for monitoring and combating illegal deforestation – and the management of water resources withdrawn by the deputies.
For the executive, these setbacks are a lesser evil that can avoid a complete restructuring of the team composed by Lula. The government will keep the same priorities despite this step backwards, Marina Silva told the press, assuring that everything would be done internally “so that the implementation (of the plan) is not compromised”.
