CNN environmental expert, Erika Becharaevaluates the arguments defended by the federal government to encourage the approval of a Bill that allows mining in indigenous lands in the country.
For Bechara, the Brazilian government’s argument that potash mining is urgent because of the scarcity of fertilizers is “opportunistic and fallacious”, as it suggests that the country’s potash mines are underexploited because they are on indigenous lands.
“According to researchers from the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), the Legal Amazon holds only one third of the country’s potassium deposits and only 11% of this is in indigenous lands”, says Bechara.
The lawyer reiterates that the government’s strategy of putting the Bill on an emergency basis, so that the vote is carried out without debate in the committees, is “a true violation of the democratic process.”
“The way to solve this issue is not the hasty approval of this PL, because if it is approved tomorrow, there will be no fertilizers the day after tomorrow. There is a long process of supplying the input, which involves research, environmental licensing, consultation with the affected peoples, installation of infrastructure, among other steps,” said Bechara.
THE CNN Specialist concludes that approving mining on indigenous land “is not the solution to the current threat of potassium shortages, nor to the country’s self-sufficiency in fertilizers”.
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Source: CNN Brasil
