Misguided policy may jeopardize a diverse South brazilian environmental protection area

Gustavo Henrique Zaia Alves,Gislaine Iachstel Manetta,Laryssa H R Pazianoto,Edivando Vitor Do Couto,Hugo José Message,Regiane Da Silva Santos,Evanilde Benedito,Bruno R S Figueiredo,Gilson Burigo Guimarães

doi:10.1590/1676-0611-bn-2018-0574

Abstract

Abstract: The Devonian Escarpment (DEEPA), located in the south of Brazil, represents an important area of environmental preservation composed by grasslands, gallery forests, as well as rock outcrops and archaeological sites. A law project (LP 527/2016), which suggests a reduction of the DEEPA area in approximately 70% of its original area (from 393,579 to 125,895 ha), is currently being processed in the Paraná State House of Representatives. Such reduction seems to be related to economic interests (mainly agriculture and mining) in the state of Paraná. If approved, LP 527/2016 will allow farmers to deliberately expand their activities, with the suppression of natural forest as main consequence. Additionally, loss of faunal diversity, contamination of water and soils, and alteration in nutrient cycles are expected, due the intensive use of agrochemicals. In addition to the direct environmental consequences, we expect the disappearance of areas of high geological interest, reducing local geodiversity, as well as substantial economic losses with ecotourism. Brazil is a signatory to the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity, where it undertakes to develop strategies to prevent biodiversity loss and ecosystem degradation by 2020. An approval of the LP would be contradictory, considering that there are few natural vegetation areas in this region of the country. We emphasize that the proposal of such projects goes against the sustainability in the country and disregard the scientific knowledge generated until then. Thus, it is necessary to develop regional and federal political objectives that guarantee economic development in a balanced way, considering the local bio and geodiversity, not the proposal of mechanisms that destroy them.

Highlights

Protected areas are proposed to preserve and protect the biodiversity and its components, such as habitats, species, populations, and ecosystem services (Margulis & Pressey 2000), and their effectiveness has been widely shown (e.g. Frederico et al 2018)
The Devonian Escarpment Environment Protection Area (EPA) was created in 1992 under a state decree (Paraná state decree no. 1231/1992) whose primary objective was to protect the bio- and geodiversity of a natural area of approximately 393.579 ha, with a unique set of vegetation with high rates of biodiversity and endemism. This area is mainly composed by grasslands, gallery woods, rocky outcrops, and canyons and patches of Araucaria forest. This EPA is a crucial area for biodiversity preservation because it comprises within its limits four State Parks, five Private Reserve of Natural Heritage, a significant portion of the Campos Gerais National Park, and integrates important Brazilian river basins through a river network composed by the Tibagi, Iguaçu and Ribeira Rivers (Paraná 2004, Oliveira 2014)
With the reduction of this EPA and exclusion of rural properties of the EPA category, the area outside the ranges of the new protection area proposed by the LP will be regulated by the recently modified Brazilian Native Vegetation Protection Law, whose effects for preserving biodiversity were widely criticized by environmentalist and the scientific community (e.g. Bernard et al 2014, Soares-Filho et al 2014 and Vieira et al 2018)

Summary

Introduction

Protected areas are proposed to preserve and protect the biodiversity and its components, such as habitats, species, populations, and ecosystem services (Margulis & Pressey 2000), and their effectiveness has been widely shown (e.g. Frederico et al 2018). In Brazil, the protection of natural areas is guaranteed by the National System of Conservation Units of Nature (SNUC in Portuguese – federal law 9.985/2000), whose main objectives are, among others, to protect endangered species, and preserve and recover the diversity of natural ecosystems.

Results

Conclusion