Brazil Orders Seizure of Land Impacted By Environmental Crimes
A Brazilian Supreme Court justice has ordered the federal government to seize private property when owners are found responsible for illegal deforestation or wildfires, the Associated Press reported.
The judge, Justice Flávio Dino, also urged the federal and state governments to take steps to halt regularization – when illegally-obtained land is legally recognized – as it is a significant contributor to the deforestation of the Amazon, where land-grabbers clear land knowing it will likely become their property due to lax land laws or government amnesties.
Dino also ordered the government to seek compensation from people who illegally and intentionally destroyed land.
This case originated from a petition filed by the Sustainability Network (Rede Sustentabilidade) party, and supported by several environmental organizations, demanding stricter federal and state policies to safeguard the Amazon rainforest and the Pantanal wetlands close to the Bolivian border– both regions have been the victims of serious wildfires, mostly caused by humans, since 2020.
Analysts told the AP this ruling could take effect immediately, as there have been multiple court rulings with convictions for illegal deforestation, especially in the Amazon region. The order, meanwhile, is subject to appeal.
They added that the order could confiscate lands illegally deforested years ago or “regularized” illegally.
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