Bolsonaro reduced civil society participation in environmental councils, study says

A study conducted by NGOs Article 19, Imaflora and Instituto Socioambiental (ISA) highlights and reveals the serious setbacks in civil society participation in socio-environmental policies throughout the Bolsonaro’s administration and in access to information. Exclusion of collegiate bodies, reduction of seats in councils, threats to servants and database blackouts are some strategies mentioned.

Of 22 governmental environmental collegiate organizations, more than half were impacted by extinctions or restructuring, points out the “Mapping of transparency and social participation setbacks in Brazilian environmental policy”. The study highlights the weakening of the National Environmental Council (Conama) - which had its number of councilors reduced from 96 to 23 participants, and of the 23 seats for civil society, only 4 remained - and the National Biodiversity Commission (Conabio), whose representatives from academia and society went from 8 to 2.

For Bruno Vello, Imaflora Public Policy analyst, the survey indicates that “setbacks in environmental policies seen over the past few years make it difficult for society to monitor and participate in decisions made by the Executive,” he said in a note published by ISA.