Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
07BRASILIA1097
2007-06-14 14:23:00
UNCLASSIFIED
Embassy Brasilia
Cable title:
BRAZILIAN CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES VOTES TO UPHOLD
how-toVZCZCXRO5476 RR RUEHRG DE RUEHBR #1097 1651423 ZNR UUUUU ZZH R 141423Z JUN 07 FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9224 INFO RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 4582 RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 0106 RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 6801
UNCLAS BRASILIA 001097
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR G FOR PBATES; OES/PCI LSPERLING
STATE FOR WHA/BSC WPOPP
STATE PLS PASS TO EPA HILL-MACON
STATE PLS PASS TO USGS JWEAVER
STATE PLS PASS TO PARK SERVICE FOR SMORRIS
STATE PLS PASS TO DOI FOR KWASHBURN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TNGD TRGY KSCA EAGR BR
SUBJECT: BRAZILIAN CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES VOTES TO UPHOLD
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES TO IBAMA, SENATE VOTE REMAINS
REF: 07 BRASILIA 00822
UNCLAS BRASILIA 001097
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR G FOR PBATES; OES/PCI LSPERLING
STATE FOR WHA/BSC WPOPP
STATE PLS PASS TO EPA HILL-MACON
STATE PLS PASS TO USGS JWEAVER
STATE PLS PASS TO PARK SERVICE FOR SMORRIS
STATE PLS PASS TO DOI FOR KWASHBURN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TNGD TRGY KSCA EAGR BR
SUBJECT: BRAZILIAN CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES VOTES TO UPHOLD
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES TO IBAMA, SENATE VOTE REMAINS
REF: 07 BRASILIA 00822
1. The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies (lower house) voted on June 12
in favor of the proposed reorganization of IBAMA, the Ministry of
Environment's enforcement agency. The restructuring, first announced
April 25 by Environment Minister Marina Silva and supported by
President Lula, would split IBAMA into two units.
2. The newly created Instituto Chico Mendes, would be responsible
for IBAMA's conservation duties and for managing Brazil's two
hundred and eighty eight units of protected areas. It's portfolio
would include all activities concerning sustainable use of protected
areas, the execution of research programs and the protection,
preservation and conservation of biodiversity. The remaining part of
IBAMA would limit its responsibilities to authorizing, licensing and
supervising issues related to the environment. This would include
the execution and enforcement of environmental policies,
authorization for the use of natural resources and the hot-button
issue of issuing environmental licenses.
3. IBAMA's 6000 employees have been on strike protesting the
restructuring since its announcement in April. They have vowed to
keep pressure on the Senate to reject the restructuring measure
until the final vote on Sept 7.
4. COMMENT: It is widely speculated that the decision to reorganize
was based in part on criticism, from both the media and within her
own party, of Minister Silva's tight environmental regulation
policies, which have put her at odds with those supporting new
big-ticket development projects. One example is the plan to build
two large dams at the Santo Anttnio and Jirau rapids on the Madeira
River in the state of Rondtnia. After two years of review, IBAMA
still has not issued the go ahead to construct the dams. The issue
of environmental licensing for large energy projects is likely to
become more contentious as Brazil continues to develop. END COMMENT:
SOBEL
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
STATE FOR G FOR PBATES; OES/PCI LSPERLING
STATE FOR WHA/BSC WPOPP
STATE PLS PASS TO EPA HILL-MACON
STATE PLS PASS TO USGS JWEAVER
STATE PLS PASS TO PARK SERVICE FOR SMORRIS
STATE PLS PASS TO DOI FOR KWASHBURN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV TNGD TRGY KSCA EAGR BR
SUBJECT: BRAZILIAN CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES VOTES TO UPHOLD
ORGANIZATIONAL CHANGES TO IBAMA, SENATE VOTE REMAINS
REF: 07 BRASILIA 00822
1. The Brazilian Chamber of Deputies (lower house) voted on June 12
in favor of the proposed reorganization of IBAMA, the Ministry of
Environment's enforcement agency. The restructuring, first announced
April 25 by Environment Minister Marina Silva and supported by
President Lula, would split IBAMA into two units.
2. The newly created Instituto Chico Mendes, would be responsible
for IBAMA's conservation duties and for managing Brazil's two
hundred and eighty eight units of protected areas. It's portfolio
would include all activities concerning sustainable use of protected
areas, the execution of research programs and the protection,
preservation and conservation of biodiversity. The remaining part of
IBAMA would limit its responsibilities to authorizing, licensing and
supervising issues related to the environment. This would include
the execution and enforcement of environmental policies,
authorization for the use of natural resources and the hot-button
issue of issuing environmental licenses.
3. IBAMA's 6000 employees have been on strike protesting the
restructuring since its announcement in April. They have vowed to
keep pressure on the Senate to reject the restructuring measure
until the final vote on Sept 7.
4. COMMENT: It is widely speculated that the decision to reorganize
was based in part on criticism, from both the media and within her
own party, of Minister Silva's tight environmental regulation
policies, which have put her at odds with those supporting new
big-ticket development projects. One example is the plan to build
two large dams at the Santo Anttnio and Jirau rapids on the Madeira
River in the state of Rondtnia. After two years of review, IBAMA
still has not issued the go ahead to construct the dams. The issue
of environmental licensing for large energy projects is likely to
become more contentious as Brazil continues to develop. END COMMENT:
SOBEL