Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva, Brazil’s new president on Sunday, promised in his speech to halt the destruction of the Amazon rainforest, a problem that arose during Jair Bolsonaro’s reign. President Lula pledged to reverse and, eventually, end all of this. Lula assumed the presidency for the second time, twenty years after his first. Lula described the situation as “inspired by fascism,” saying Bolsonaro has left “terrible ruins” among Brazil’s institutions.
“The world expects Brazil to once again become a leader in tackling the climate crisis and an example of a socially and environmentally responsible country,” he said.
Deforestation in the Amazon increased substantially under Bolsonaro
Under Bolsonaro, deforestation in the Amazon grew dramatically. As a result, annual average deforestation rates increased by 60% under his administration compared to the previous four years. The devastation is so extensive that certain areas of the forest emit far more carbon dioxide than they absorb.
Marina Silva, an Amazon activist, has been named Lula’s environment and climate change minister.
Notably, during Marina’s service as environment minister during Lula’s first term, from 2003 to 2010, deforestation decreased dramatically. She later resigned from her position owing to disagreements with Lula, but she supported him for president this year.
“Together with our mobilized society, we face the great challenge of rescuing and updating the lost socio-environmental agenda,” she said last week.
Steps planned
Lula’s administration has stated that it will reverse measures that have resulted in a surge in gold mining in the Amazon. Obstructions to environmental fines will also be removed, as the fines have served as a significant deterrent to illegal operations in the Amazon. Federal authorities responsible for rainforest protection will be strengthened, and a federal police unit will be established to pursue criminal gangs causing devastation in the forest.
Marina Silva’s Amazon Fund, a conservation program to combat deforestation, will be reactivated after being stopped in 2019. The program recognizes efforts to reduce deforestation. Norway and Germany have both expressed willingness to unfreeze their donations to Brazil via the Amazon Fund.
According to the Norwegian embassy in Brasilia, the fund “can be opened quickly to support the government’s action plan once the Brazilian government reinstates the governing structure of the fund.”
At COP27 climate talks in Egypt, Lula promised “zero deforestation” in the Amazon. “There will be no climate security if the Amazon isn’t protected,” he said.
For the first time, indigenous communities in Brazil have a ministry in the government
For the first time, indigenous communities in Brazil have a ministry in the government. This is also viewed as an important aspect of Amazon conservation because much of the forest is located within the indigenous territory, which is frequently preyed upon by criminal gangs who run mining and logging operations or open up the forest to grazing.
Meanwhile, Sonia Guajajara’s appointment provides tribal tribes in Brazil a public face for the first time. Because much of the Amazon jungle is located within indigenous grounds, this decision could be extremely beneficial in reversing harm. Criminal gangs who operate mining and logging activities or open up the forest for grazing frequently target these regions.
