04 Jan 2007 - Enforcing environmental laws in the Brazilian
Amazon has never been an easy task.
It's even harder when most of the allocated resources from
local, state and federal budgets go primarily to social,
economic and educational activities, not necessarily environmental
ones. This is reflected by the insufficient numbers of law
enforcers needed to inspect the country's vast protected
areas.
In Acre funding for rangers to cover a forest area equivalent
to 50 per cent of Italy is often scarce.
The forest platoon (Pelotão da Floresta) of the
Acre military police has only 20 policemen. Sidnei Lucas
Santos belongs to this group and says that the number is
by far not enough.
“It is simply impossible to respond to all the demands
that exist in this state with only 20 men," he says.
The tasks of the forest platoon are very diverse, ranging
from fighting illegal logging, forest fires, illegal hunting
and fishing, to helping people who lose their houses in
natural catastrophes (floods and landslides).
Sidnei points out that, besides Acre having a huge forest
in its territory, it is also a state that has borders with
Bolivia and Peru, which makes the ranger's work even more
complicated.
“The borders always demand special attention and increased
coordination," he adds.
The rangers also face difficulties in reaching many regions
of Acre. During the dry season they manage to overcome the
long, unpaved roads in 4x4 vehicles. But when the rain period
starts, the only means of transportation for most of the
protected areas are small boats.
The rangers work is also risky. The platoon often has to
challenge the interests of powerful economic groups in Acre,
especially illegal loggers and cattle ranchers, which deforest
huge areas in order to extend their activities.
“That’s the reason why in Brazil, and especially in the
Amazon, the environmental law enforcers must be policemen,
with uniform and guns," Sidnei explains.
The personal life of a ranger in the Amazon is also difficult.
“Several times, when I’m on the field for a mission, I
can't see my wife and kids for two or even four weeks in
a row," he says.
“But that’s part of our work. Indeed, to be a ranger in
the Amazon, one must really love his profession.”
* By Bruno Taitson, Communications Officer, WWF-Brazil.
