BELÉM, BRAZIL — The Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) has intensified efforts to combat illegal deforestation and unlawful cattle ranching in protected areas of Pará state. During one of these operations, carried out on Tuesday (June 9) in São Félix do Xingu, local residents released cattle, which then dispersed throughout the area.

A total of 90 head of cattle were involved in the incident. The operation was launched on June 3 with support from federal and state institutions at the Terra do Meio Ecological Station, where cattle had allegedly been raised illegally in an embargoed area.

According to ICMBio, the removal of herds from illegally deforested land has become an effective strategy for disrupting unlawful environmental activities in areas already subject to embargoes. The agency said such measures have contributed significantly to reducing the advance of deforestation in protected territories.

At the Terra do Meio Ecological Station, the presence of unauthorized cattle violates the regulations governing a fully protected conservation unit. In addition, the animals were reportedly grazing on areas officially embargoed by the Institute, where enforcement notices had already been issued and occupants formally notified, constituting repeated violations of environmental legislation.

The agency also reported sanitary irregularities. According to inspectors, the animals had not been registered with the Pará State Agricultural Defense Agency (Adepará), a situation that characterizes fraud within livestock operations.

ICMBio stated that the operation is being conducted in accordance with ongoing land regularization processes and legal opinions issued by its Office of the General Counsel, ensuring the rights to due process and legal defense. According to the agency, the objective is to guarantee that all measures are carried out within established legal parameters.

Amazon Agency