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Operation Suçuarana, launched on Thursday (5) by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), generated tension in communities of the Extractive Reserve (Resex) Chico Mendes and cities of Alto Acre. The action seized cattle raised illegally within the conservation unit and triggered a wave of threats against Raimundo Mendes de Barros, known as Raimundão, cousin of rubber tree leader Chico Mendes and one of the region’s main extractive leaders.
Raimundão is a cousin of Chico Mendes and has been accused by residents and environmental offenders of being responsible for stimulating inspection /photo actions: Reproduction
Raimundão has been accused by residents and environmental offenders of being responsible for stimulating inspection actions, such as ICMBio and the Federal Police, which result in seizures, fines and embargoes of deforested areas. In WhatsApp groups, threat messages, and innuendo that he can have the same destination as Chico Mendes circular after the operation. Mendes was murdered in 1988 in Xapuri for his acting in the defense of the forest.
Raimundão’s daughter, 21 -year -old Raiara Barros, reported that her life was impacted by the fear generated by threats. “They say the father is looking to get lead, just as Chico Mendes took,” he said. A resident of the Rio Branco Serngal and a member of the Varadouro Collective, which brings together young extractivists from Acre, Raiara says the family has adopted security measures to avoid exposure.
Operation Suçuarana aims to seize 400 heads of cattle raised illegally in areas embargoed within Resex Chico Mendes. Cattle raising is allowed in the unit, as long as it respects the limits of each placement. However, part of the residents has expanded pasture areas beyond allowed, contributing to reserve deforestation.
According to ICMBio, the targets of the operation are invaders with administrative notifications and definitive judicial decisions. One of the cases that repercussions was that of a resident of the New Hope Singal, who had more than 150 heads of cattle seized and was filmed crying, being comforted by family members. He had already been notified and was under court order to remove the animals.
ICMBio’s action has provoked reactions from local political leaders and residents, accusing the body of abuse of authority and not allowing a defense or deadline for removal of cattle. Many of the creations are “sock cattle”, where the places are leased by residents to farmers around the reserve.
The operation has been overseeing several properties located within Resex Chico Mendes/Photo: Cedido
Since 2019, Resex has been having another problem: the fractionation of rubber plantations and the sale of lots to residents from Rondônia, who prioritize livestock and agriculture. Between 2019 and 2024, Resex Chico Mendes lost almost 385 km² of forest, according to data from Prodes/Inpe, with the fifth most deforested conservation unit in the Legal Amazon.
Carla Lessa, ICMBio regional manager in the Amazon, said the operation aims to protect the most pressured unit in the region. “We are promoting continuous operations of protection, identification and punishment of offenders,” he said.
Operation Suçuarana has the support of the Environmental Military Police Battalion, National Force, Federal Highway Police, Federal Police, Brazilian Army, Federal Prosecutor and Institute for Agricultural and Forestry Defense of Acre. The operation follows no date for closing.
