As it is well known by those who follow the daily life of the National Congress, the word urgency can mean many things – in any thing. And this seems to be the case in which Bill No. 4,870 of 2024 fits the National Policy for Conservation Units. Approved in the House last year, the text, authored by Deputy Túlio Gadêlha (Rede-PE), arrived at the Federal Senate on December 20, and was asked to be processed in an emergency registered on March 26 this year. But the request, until Wednesday (28), had no forecast to reach plenary, according to the Legislative Advisory of the Bureau.
The main point that clings to the urgency of the PL is the chapter that authorizes the ICMBio (Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation), state and municipal agencies of the National Conservation Units System to hire financial institutions to create and manage a private fund that finance improvements in these spaces.
Analysis of the Semeia Institute, which since 2011 is researching and evaluating parks across the country, and which launched in 2023 the diagnosis of public use in Brazilian parks, 62% of managers of these units accuse the lack of financial and human resources to enable basic work.
The study also points out that in 58% of natural parks there are no precariously available, visitor support structures such as bathrooms, drinking fountains, access control etc. And, according to Abeta (Brazilian Association of Ecotourism and Adventure Tourism Companies), it is estimated that close to 70% of activities dedicated to the segment act in informality, low qualification and without supervision.
Even with all the problems, the 600 UCs spread across the country – which correspond to 4.26% of the protected continental area and 0.13% of the protected marine area – receive about 16 million visitors annually. It may seem a lot but the sowing report evaluates that the potential is 56 million people, which could add about R $ 44 billion to national GDP, and create up to one million jobs.
If the suffered public coffers cannot allocate sufficient funds to meet the needs of the UCs, and areas such as Education and Health Pugnate to cover priority expenses, the possibility of capturing private resources, without necessarily going through the granting of spaces, can be a solution. After all, it is never too much to remember that Brazil has just over 1,930 employees to account for the management of federal protected areas, around 76.1 million hectares, which makes it humanly impossible to protect and properly handle these units. Open a direct investment channel for personal play, management and other services that make a difference in the receptive of visitors seems to be a good idea, which needs specific legislation – in the case, PL No. 4,870/2024.
But although he requested an urgency signed by four Senate leaders-Weverton (PDT-MA), Rogério Carvalho (PT-SE), Eliziane Gama (PSD-MA) and Efraim Filho (Union-PB)-the project has not been walked. And by the way, it will take time to walk.
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