PF creates office to investigate fires in the Pantanal of MS

Members of the National Force arrived yesterday (27) in the Pantanal region, to begin the investigation of the fires that are occurring in the area. The crisis committee was established to investigate the origin of the fires in the Pantanal of Mato Grosso do Sul. The committee was set up in the city of Ladário.

Fires are equivalent to 684,000 football fields

According to agents from the Ministry of the Environment, much of the fire is caused by human actions, which corresponds to environmental crime. It is estimated that more than 160 firefighters from the National Force will help with reinforcements. Military personnel from Brasília and Rio Grande do Sul will also help.

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^{More than 160 firefighters are working to fight fires in the Pantanal (Photo: reproduction/Florian Plaucheur/Getty Images Embed)}

The affected area, of almost 700 thousand hectares, represents 4.5% of the Brazilian biome. This area is four times the size of the capital São Paulo. Today (28) the Federal Government delegation will arrive in Corumbá. Marina Silva, Simone Tebet, and Waldez Góes will be in the delegation to fly over the area and meet with the state governor, Eduardo Reidel, to discuss actions to combat the fires. The state of Mato Grosso do Sul has already invested R$50 million in equipment and prevention actions. Since April of this year, more than 415 firefighters have worked to combat the fires in the Pantanal. Much of the work is done at night, without sunlight. “Night combat, which has a better result, also wears out the fighters less, because the temperature is calmer and there is less wind”said Márcio Yule, coordinator of Prevfogo/MS to Jornal Nacional.

Environmental crime

The environment is protected by Law No. 9,605 of February 12, 1998. Before this law, environmental protection was difficult. Before the creation of the Environmental Protection Law, deforestation had only one application and fine. With the Law, there was greater centralization of the application of penalties and greater clarity regarding crimes. The Law includes crimes against fauna, flora, natural resources and cultural heritage. All crimes against the environment are subject to penalties, detention, fines and even voluntary service.

Causing damage to vegetation and conservation areas, causing fires in woods and forests, extraction and cutting without proper authorization are environmental crimes provided for by law. Releasing balloons is also an environmental crime, considering the dangers and risks of fires, especially during the dry season.

Featured photo: fires in the Pantanal have already devastated an area equivalent to 684,000 football fields (Reproduction/Pablo Porciuncula/Getty Images Embed)