Senator Flávio Bolsonaro proposes bill to weaken Federal Forest Code

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro (PSL-RJ) presented a bill in Congress that eliminates the chapter on mandatory legal reserve for private rural properties from the Federal Forestry Code. Aiming to end what he calls “obstacles” and “expand agribusiness, create jobs and contribute to the growth of the country”, the text in practise suppresses the obligation of private rural landowners to maintain part of the native vegetation in their properties.

Senator Flávio Bolsonaro also blames “ecological bureaucrats” for distributing false information on agribusiness and states that “NGOs and international bodies should award and praise producers for their role in protecting the forests”.