Government of Pará enacts environmental responsibility law
The legislation is unprecedented in Brazil and will increase the resources of the Environmental Fund tenfold to combat environmental crimes and bioeconomy projects
Pará has once again taken the lead in implementing policies in defense of the environment. On Thursday (5), the state governor, Helder Barbalho, enacted the Environmental Responsibility Law, which ensures funding for the sustainability agenda from resources obtained through water and mining fees. The signing of the law took place during the programming commemorating World Environment Day at the Utinga State Park.
During the event, a protocol of intentions was signed - between the Government of Pará, the City Hall of Belém, and the National Bank for Economic and Social Development (BNDES) - for the new Urban Tree Planting Plan of Belém and the Pará Sem Fogo program was announced, which will mobilize joint actions from the Secretary of Environment, Climate and Sustainability (Semas) and the Military Fire Brigade of Pará to combat forest fires.
The program was extensive and included the appointment of new employees approved in the public competition for Semas, the implementation of the Job, Career and Remuneration Plan (PCCR) for Semas and Ideflor-Bio environmental servers.
In his speech, the head of the state executive explained that environmental and sustainability actions are funded by the State Environmental Fund, which in 2024 had a volume of R$ 100 million for combating forest fires and bioeconomy projects. With the Environmental Responsibility Law, the Fund will have approximately R$ 1 billion for the sustainability agenda. "A leap 10 times greater than the current amount applied and more than that, the consolidation of a state policy," he emphasized.
"It is important to highlight that the funding of the sustainability agenda goes from supporting command, control, and inspection actions, therefore, actions to combat deforestation and confront burning and fire outbreaks, to promoting land use activities aimed at enhancing the productive vocation of the State with low carbon production activities, low emissions, and the implementation of economic activities linked to our biodiversity, especially bioeconomy," continued the governor.
The Environmental Responsibility Law of the State of Pará is unprecedented in Brazil. It ensures that 50% of the resources obtained through the water fee and 10% of the mining fee are passed directly to the State Environmental Fund.
State and municipal agencies can access the Fund, managed by Semas. To be financed, actions must align with existing policies, such as the State Environmental Policy, the Climate Change Policy (PEMC/PA), the Amazon Now Plan (PEAA), the Bioeconomy Plan (PlanBio), and the Native Vegetation Recovery Plan (PRVN-PA).
The Environmental Responsibility Law was approved by the Legislative Assembly of the State of Pará on June 3. According to the president of Alepa, state deputy Chicão, the actions of the head of Semas, Secretary Raul Protazio Romão, ensured that the approval of the Law was expedited. "He (the secretary) has always been willing to provide information to the deputies. This demonstrates the importance and commitment of the government to work more and more for the development of the State," said the parliamentarian.
Appointments - Another important point that occurred in the programming for World Environment Day was the inauguration of those approved in the public competition for Semas. During the ceremony, twelve approved candidates took the stage and had their term of office signed by the governor of Pará, Helder Barbalho.
The group represented a total of 206 new employees who are joining the secretary to strengthen efforts in defense of the environment. "We want to contribute to this project. My expectation is to work in the restoration and recovery of native vegetation," projected Liliane Brabo, who will work as an environmental analyst in forestry engineering.
Urban Tree Planting Plan of Belém
The state government signed, along with the City Hall of Belém and BNDES, the protocol of intentions for the creation and implementation of the Tree Planting Plan of Belém. The document does not establish the transfer of resources but consolidates the interest of the institutions in participating in a project for the reconstitution of the vegetation cover and urban biodiversity of the city.
In his speech during the signing of the protocol of intentions, Governor Helder Barbalho highlighted the partnership with BNDES for the development of projects that improve the lives of the population of Belém, especially through investments for the legacy works of the United Nations Conference on Climate Change (COP30), which will be held in Belém next November. "I usually say that BNDES is the bank of COP30. It is the financial institution partner of COP30. We are very grateful for the way BNDES has worked with us," he emphasized.
The new Tree Planting Plan of Belém foresees the planting of 200,000 trees in collective areas of the city, such as squares and sidewalks. The plan is in the construction phase.
"This initiative will allow Belém to consolidate its role as a capital of the Amazon," highlighted the mayor of Belém, Igor Normando.
Rural Environmental Registry and Fishing Agreement
Still during today's event (5), the State delivered benefits from the Sustainable Livestock program and the Payment for Environmental Services project, in addition to Fishing Agreements and nine Rural Environmental Registries (CAR) for traditional communities.
One of the beneficiaries of the CAR was farmer Rosivaldo Moraes, who represented the Association of Residents of Remnant Quilombos of the Boa Esperança Community in Cametá, northeastern Pará. "With this registry, we can better develop our work. In November of last year, Governor Helder Barbalho delivered the land title to our community. Now he delivered the CAR. We are very grateful! There are 69 families being benefited," he said.
Cetras - The service order for the construction of the Sustainable Regional Development Center in São Félix do Xingu and for the construction of a Wildlife Treatment and Rehabilitation Center (Cetras) in the municipality of Marituba, in the Metropolitan Region of Belém, was also signed. The project will be developed in partnership with Hydro.
Another significant moment in the programming for World Environment Day was the delivery of the Friend of the Forest certificate to the pajé Zeneida, who was represented on the occasion by her son.
"Today we celebrate three emblematic initiatives: the partnership with Hydro for the construction of the Cetras, which will be a reference in the reception and rehabilitation of wildlife; the signing of another sustainable forest concession contract in the Mamuru-Arapiuns glebes region, which combines production with conservation; and the delivery of the Friend of the Forest certificate to pajé Zeneida, a living symbol of our respect for Amazonian knowledge and ancestry," enumerated the president of the Institute for Forest Development and Biodiversity of Pará (Ideflor-Bio), Nilson Pinto.
"These acts show that Pará is on a path of development with environmental responsibility, social justice, and appreciation of our biodiversity," he highlighted.
