Abstract
Over time, science has played a key role in the consolidation and enforcement of environmental law, and this is no exception in the Brazilian context, especially with regard to the protection of biomes of special interest, such as the Amazon. Evidence in the Brazilian framework has consistently relied on empirical data to assess environmental damages, mainly through field inspection by the competent environmental agency. This is progressively changing in Brazilian courts after the Amazônia Protege Project, run by the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF), which led to case law to punish illegal deforesters solely using remotely evidence, such as satellite images. In this sense, this study seeks to demonstrate the development of the use of technology in environmental cases by analysing the results of the Amazônia Protege Project lawsuits regarding the recovery of deforested areas. Confirming the legality of evidence obtained only remotely aims to speed up punishments and change the course of impunity in the Amazon biome. Thus, through the intersection of geospatial science and law, using quantitative methods, advanced geoprocessing techniques, satellite images and legal analysis, it was able to, preliminarly, observe that around 77 per cent of the cases analysed showed forest recovery. Findings like that provide guidance for the MPF’s next actions, both in holding identified and unidentified deforesters accountable, with the aim of discouraging future deforestation. Thus, Amazônia Protege not only promoted the civil liability of offenders, but also pointed to effective strategies for the conservation and environmental recovery of the world’s largest rainforest.
Presenters
Rodolfo GadelhaGeodata Analyst Associate, Geospatial Analysis Lab, Center for Climate Crime Analysis - CCCA, Pará, Brazil
Details
Presentation Type
Paper Presentation in a Themed Session
Theme
KEYWORDS
REFORESTATION, ILEGAL DEFORESTATION, AMAZON RAINFOREST, REMOTE EVIDENCE, ENVIRONMENTAL LIABILITY
