Introduction
Sadly, but not surprisingly, the National Congress has once again advanced projects that weaken environmental legislation and may reduce protected areas in Brazil by up to 555,000 hectares. This is an area equivalent to almost four cities of São Paulo.
Anti-Environmental Projects
The Folha identified ten anti-environmental texts approved or whose processing was accelerated since May. In the middle of that month, deputies mobilized around agendas of interest to agribusiness. The mobilization became known among congressmen and environmentalists as the “Agro Week”, orchestrated by the Parliamentary Front of Agriculture (FPA) and the president of the house, Hugo Motta (Republicanos-PB).
Of the projects, five attempt to reverse or reduce Conservation Units and Indigenous Lands. The texts also hinder inspection against environmental crimes and their punishments and open space for deforestation. In short, a “herd” passing under the blessings of the “noble” parliamentarians.
Examples of Projects
The most recent anti-environmental parliamentary crusade took place last Thursday (2/7). While the population was paying attention to the World Cup, deputies approved the urgent regime for the processing of Bill No. 2,898/2025. The PL, authored by Deputy Lúcio Mosquini (MDB-RO), uses a supposed “protection” of family agriculture to weaken the fight against deforestation.
The day before, the Chamber had already approved the urgent regime for a bill that aims to eliminate a 30,000-hectare land area from the Baleia Franca Environmental Protection Area (APA) in Santa Catarina. Created in 2000, the APA includes terrestrial and maritime stretches and protects at least four species of endangered animals: the right whale, the cabeçuda turtle, the green turtle, and the toninha. In vain, ICMBio issued a contrary opinion on the text.
Consequences and Reactions
“What we have witnessed in Congress is the promotion of a broader socio-environmental destruction project, aimed at serving various economic interests, some of them dubious”, evaluates Alice Dandara, a lawyer at the Socio-Environmental Institute. “Not only the Indigenous Peoples and Traditional Communities will suffer the consequences, but the entire population, including the rural producers themselves”, she adds.
In March, the Climate Observatory updated the “Destruction Package”, a set of anti-environmental and climate proposals in Congress. The survey shows that 70 proposals in the Legislative represent potential socio-environmental threats.
Conclusion
It is essential that the Brazilian population remains attentive to the actions of the National Congress and demands that parliamentarians prioritize environmental protection and the rights of indigenous peoples and traditional communities.
Source / Reference
Original URL: https://climainfo.org.br/2026/07/08/congresso-ameaca-meio-milhao-de-hectares-de-areas-protegidas-em-novo-ataque-antiambiental/