Semas applies R$ 9 million in fines for environmental crimes against forests in Pará

In Pará, actions against those who do not comply with environmental laws and degrade nature are increasingly strengthened. The work, which was being carried out through Operation Amazonia Viva, gained reinforcement with Operation Curupira, with the differential of installing fixed bases in municipalities that concentrate the largest environmental crimes: São Félix do Xingu, Novo Progresso and Uruará.

Since the implementation of the first base of Operation Curupira on February 15, in São Félix do Xingu, almost R$ 9 million has been applied in environmental fines. The data is from the State Secretariat of Environment and Sustainability (Semas), updated as of April 10.

At Semas, teams from the Environmental Inspection Directorate and the Corporate Intelligence Advisory, using satellite images provided by the Integrated Environmental Monitoring Center (Cimam), with precision in the information confirmed by teams in the field, in territories illegally exploited, quickly and cost-effectively.

“While one team is in the field, another is at Cimam mapping the areas. And when any alteration in forest cover is identified, the geographical coordinates of that region are captured to be sent to the inspectors in the field. The fines applied demonstrate that the Secretariat is doing its job of inspecting and that those who commit crimes will not go unpunished,” said Semas Secretary Mauro O’de Almeida.

Operation Curupira brings together environmental agents, public security system employees: Military, Civil and Scientific Police; Military Fire Brigade, Civil Defense, Treasury Secretariat (Sefa) and Penitentiary Administration (Seap), and Agropecuária Defense Agency (Adepará).

“Semas, in its specific activity, issues fines, conducts inspections and analyzes areas. In contrast, the security forces have been doing their part with respect to criminal procedures and ostensiveness in these areas identified through monitoring. All efforts employed have resulted in the seizure of machinery, which already amount to a significant quantity in real terms, as well as the seizure of wood and other embargoes. All this demonstrates the importance of integration in actions that work both in the administrative sphere with the application of fines, but also in the criminal sphere with procedures of arrests, seizures, and investigations through inquiries, demonstrating that the state is present and environmental crimes will not go unpunished,” said the Secretary of Public Security and Social Defense, Ualame Machado.

Environmental conciliation – With the aim of finalizing punitive processes through the payment of fines that had not yet been resolved, Semas constantly carries out environmental conciliation marathons that favor interested parties in closing open processes in the Secretariat, with the option of discount and installment payments. The action also aims at the preservation and recovery of the quality of the environment in the State.

In the last marathon held in the municipalities of Santarém, Altamira, Marabá, and Belém, between March and April, 22 agreements were reached, totaling R$ 138,296.72 cash and R$ 512,565.72 in installments, resulting in a total of R$ 650,862.44. The values will be converted into new environmental preservation actions.

Sustainable development – In parallel with the ostensiveness actions, Semas has the State Policy on Climate Change (PEMC), created in 2020, which brings together actions of mitigation and adaptation to climate change that range from actions to reduce greenhouse gas emissions, forest preservation, and job and income generation. Through PEMC, Semas is implementing the State Plan for Bioeconomy to generate a new socioeconomic matrix in the State. The Forest Restoration Plan is also under construction, which will provide other income options for those who made their living from illegal activities, in addition to the development of its Jurisdictional System of Redd+ and Payment for Environmental Services.

Source: Agência Pará.