March 18, 2022

16:03

Malu Dacio – from Cenarium Magazine

MANAUS – A recent study by the Igarapé Institute revealed that deforestation in the Amazon, which is largely illegal, is driven by different economies that are illicit or contaminated with illegality. The result came through a survey that analyzed data from 369 Federal Police (PF) operations conducted between 2016 and 2021. The full study you can find at the end of this publication.

The Strategic Article ‘The ecosystem of environmental crime in the Amazon: an analysis of the forest’s illicit economies’ shows that this economy stems from activities such as illegal logging, illegal mining (especially gold), land grabbing and agricultural activities with environmental liabilities.

The research is signed by Laura Trajber Waisbich, Melina Risso, Terine Husek and Lycia Brasil. The article argues that behind the deforestation and degradation of the largest tropical forest on the planet there is a series of irregularities.

The text also says that integrated to formal and legal markets, the illicit economies of the Amazon operate through an ecosystem of environmental and non-environmental crimes (such as corruption, fraud, violent crimes, and trafficking crimes).

Regarding sources, the research analyzed actions carried out independently by the Federal Police, in the exercise of its judicial police powers, or in conjunction with more than 50 other institutions (mainly, agencies of the National Environmental System (Sisnama), agencies of the Justice system and other security forces).

Of these operations, 109 were carried out by the Federal Police alone and 260 in partnership with more than 50 other public agencies, mainly institutions of the National Environmental System (Sisnama), the Justice system, regulatory agencies or, still, in conjunction with federal and state security forces.

A combination of crimes

The states of Pará and Rondônia received the most actions, and the most recurrent crimes were illegal gold mining and wood extraction. Another alarming fact is that 60% of the operations registered more than one method of illicit economy caught at the same time.

“The intertwining is particularly frequent in the case of illegal deforestation, illegal occupation of land and farming and ranching contaminated by environmental crimes, corroborating the thesis that the invasion and appropriation of public lands in the Amazon by private individuals is a crime that precedes the others”, reads part of the excerpt.

Organization in criminality

Also according to the study, these Federal Police operations show an organized structure of environmental crime in the Amazon and the use of fraudulent means. They also reveal the presence of acts of corruption and money laundering (present in about 20% of the operations).

“The actions of the Federal Police in the period also point to an increase in violence related to environmental crime in the Amazon. Investigations related to violent crimes against the person, slave labor, trafficking crimes or possession of weapons, ammunition and explosives were present in 29% of all operations in the period, and their frequency showed an upward curve”, highlights an excerpt.

The study concludes by affirming that the fight against environmental crimes, in the Amazon, demands intelligence and strategic prioritization from the institutions and bodies linked to administrative inspection and criminal prosecution. “There are tasks for the public sector, such as the states and the federal government, and also for the private sector”, it concludes.

Check out the study in its totality: