The Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) released a balance of operations launched in all regions of the country, with the aim of combating environmental crimes committed in conservation units. Among the illicit acts targeted by operations are deforestation and irregular occupations, as well as illegal hunting and fishing. The balance sheet was disclosed at the beginning of the night of Thursday (13). Grande Sertão Veredas National Park One of the operations launched by the institute was between the 17th and 26th of March in the Grande Sertão Veredas National Park, located on the border of the states of Minas Gerais and Bahia. The operation focused on combating the hunting of animals and the illegal raising of cattle within the limits of the park. According to ICMBio, unregistered firearms and ammunition were seized. Infringement acts were drawn up against the suspects – some having in their possession slaughtered and frozen animals, ready for consumption. “Two suspects were taken to the Civil Police station in the mining town of Buritis during one of the stages of the inspection”, informed the institute. At the northern end of the park, two suspects were arrested and taken to the Civil Police station in the city of Santa Maria da Vitória, in Bahia. “In addition, there was one fined for deforestation, irregular construction and the introduction of species into the environment”, he added. Chapada dos Veadeiros In the Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park, in Goiás, ICMBio caught irregular constructions in an occupation, as well as the creation of buffaloes and other animals and irregular extractions of straw from Indaiá. “Fishing gear” was also found in the limits of the park. The inspectors seized and destroyed the material on site. In addition, occupations were “discontinued inside the park, and infraction notices, demolition orders, embargoes and seizures were applied”, informed the institute. “All records are incompatible with the purpose of the unit, which is in the category of full protection”, added ICMBio. Chapada das Mesas Three people were arrested for illegally transporting and selling wood in the Chapada das Mesas National Park, located in Maranhão. The agents who participated in Operation Chapada Limpa VII drew up records and issued two notifications “to remove an unauthorized construction on the bank of the river bordering the park”. According to ICMBio, environmental offenses committed in the park can result in fines that, combined, exceed R$ 200,000. “The objective of the operation was to combat the extraction and trade of illegally harvested wood, irregular occupations and illegal fishing within the conservation unit”, he added. Tumucumaque and Rio Jari National Forest, in the Montanhas do Tumucumaque National Park. Park was the target of one of the operations – ICMBio/Disclosure Two infraction notices were issued by ICMBio inspectors in the Montanhas do Tumucumaque National Park and in the Amapá National Forest, between April 3rd and 6th. All were punished for carrying items used for illegal hunting. Operation Holy Week was launched with the aim of combating illegal hunting and fishing in the two units – offenses that, according to the institute, increase in periods close to Holy Week, when fish consumption increases. The material seized in the operation, which had the support of the Environmental Battalion of the Military Police, was sent to the Federal Police. Abufari Biological Reserve From March 15th to April 10th, Operation Migration III, carried out at the Abufari Biological Reserve, in the Amazon, inspected the interior of the conservation unit and also the vessels traveling along the Purus River. Two notices of infraction and a term of seizure were drawn up in the land area, and more than 6 kilos of fish were seized on the vessels. More than R$ 275 in fines were applied and the fish were donated to two non-profit institutions in the municipality of Tapauá. The inspectors also inspected “areas with potential deforestation”, based on data obtained by satellite. In addition, they promoted, with the local population, an activity to raise awareness about irregular fishing. Lagoa do Peixe In the Lagoa do Peixe National Park, the actions implemented by ICMBio were daily surveillance of “points where free-living birds stop”, in order to identify possible cases of avian flu. “In this way, it is possible to assess the health of birds visiting the region and adopt measures, if necessary”, justified the institute, informing that the park follows “all the recommended standards” since the first warnings about the risk of avian flu entering in the region. ICMBio reports that, outside the bird migration season, surveillance used to be carried out monthly. During the period of birds present, surveillance is weekly. “However, surveillance has been carried out on a daily basis, with a team in the field, to identify possible outbreaks from the beginning. So far, no case of avian flu has been registered in the park,” he added.
Agência Brasil
Folha Nobre - Desde 2013 - ©