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Bolsonaro Puts Brazil Military in Charge of Fighting Amazon Destruction

Reuters

   BRASILIA - Brazilian President JairBolsonaroon Thursday authorized
   deployment of armed forces to fight destruction of the Amazon
   rainforest, giving them authority over environmental agencies in the
   region as military influence in the government grows.

   Environmental advocates fiercely criticized the order, saying that
   environmental agencies are the one with the necessary expertise.

   Last year,Bolsonarowaited until August to send troops into the Amazon,
   following international outcry over a wave of fires in the rainforest,
   which traps vast amounts of greenhouse gases that cause climate change.

   Deforestation in Brazil's Amazon hit an 11-year high in2019, androse
   another 51% through March this year.

   The order, unlike last year, gives the military authority to
   "coordinate" activities of agencies such as environmental
   enforcerIbamaand parks departmentICMBio.

   Plan called 'unacceptable'

   SuelyAraujo, who headedIbamauntil early 2019 and now is an adviser to
   advocacy group Climate Observatory, said it was "unacceptable" to
   transfer power over environmental operations in the Amazon to the
   military.

   "The military can help in certain situations, but in relation to
   environmental agencies, they should be consulted and not subordinated,"
   Araujo said. "It's the environmental agencies that have expertise in
   this area, who know how to carry out operational planning and
   strategy."

   Bolsonaro, a former paratrooper, has appointed a slew of current and
   former military officers as government ministers since taking office in
   2019. This year, he increased to seven the number of military men in
   his 20-member cabinet, not including retired general and Vice President
   HamiltonMourao.

   One month at a time

   Araujo said putting the armed forces in charge of Amazon enforcement
   operations raised the question of whetherIbamawould have to ask the
   military's permission to destroy equipment used to commit crimes such
   as illegal logging inside indigenous reserves or other protected areas.

   Bolsonarohas repeatedly said the government should not destroy this
   type of machinery, butIbamaagents have not halted the practice, long
   considered the only way to avoid a repeat of environmental crimes.

   Ibamaand the Environment Ministry did not respond to requests for
   comment.

   The military authorization is effective from May 11 to June 10, but can
   be extended in 30- day increments, asBolsonarodid once last year, for
   60 days in total.

   Vice PresidentMouraosaid last week that the government planned to send
   in the military as part of a plan to establish bases in the Amazon to
   fight deforestation.

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