Title: Update on Brazil Forest Code Revision 
Source: WWF-Brazil, http://www.wwf.org.br
Status: Copyright 2000, contact source for permission to reprint
Date: July 20, 2000

NEWS

What was the result of the SOS Forests campaign launched by WWF in the web?

The last battle concerning the Brazilian Forestry Code - a group of laws to regulate the occupation and use of the nation's forests - was won by the environmentalists on May 24. As a result of the popular claim against the proposed bill presented by the Congress Mixed Commission, aroused by the virtual campaign led by WWF and other NGOs, which resulted in over 100,000 E-mail messages sent to congressmen plus intensive media coverage, the Congress of the political parties leaders decided to file that proposal (which, among other items, meant to reduce from 80 to 50% the requirement of a legal reserve of natural forests in rural properties in the Amazon rainforest region and from 50 to 20% in the Cerrado region (savannas).

What is the present forest legislation in Brazil?

Effective legal reserve requirements for rural properties are 80% in the Amazon region, 35% in the Amazonian Cerrado (savannas) and 20% in all other regions. That is in accordance to the proposal approved by the National Environment Council - Conama, which has the representation of all concerned sectors of society. The Conama's text was defeated in the Congress Mixed Commission but, due to the filing of that Commission's own proposal, it was adopted in the Presidential Transitory Act enacted on May 28. Although the Conama's proposal is now effective, it does not mean the matter is settled in the legislative front.

The very same Congress Mixed Commission which proposed the reduction of forest reserves is still in charge of proposing another law draft to be voted on. Considering that the Commission is composed of 14 members and that 11 of them are Ruralists (representatives of the great landowners), there is reason to expect that they would not at all favor the present law, for that text was previously defeated in that Commission, in spite of being recommended by the Conama (where the great landowners and rural workers are also represented).

What will happen next?

As any other Brazilian Presidential Transitory Act, this one must be reenacted every 30 days until a definite law is approved by Congress. It is probable that the text of the act will remain the same throughout the periodical enacting, but there is no guarantee that it will be so: it may be altered anytime. This means WWF and other environmentalists are monitoring the new events or on-going negotiations, and will launch another SOS Forests campaign whenever necessary. On the other hand, although the quest for a suitable Forestry Code is still in the agenda, the matter may not be voted on until next year, since the upcoming municipal elections in Brazil will probably monopolize Congress for the next few months.