Environmental Compensation for Belo Monte Hydroelectric Power Plant Awarded to Conservation Units in Para State, Brazil

Strategic Insights -

The decision made by the Federal Court of the 1st Region, responding to a Public Civil Action filed by the State Attorney General's Office (PGE) and the Federal Public Prosecutor's Office (MPF), allocated R$92 million in environmental compensation owed by Norte Energia S/A to conservation units located in Para, Brazil. This decision comes nine years after the original Public Civil Action was filed, with the court order issued on the 10th of this month. The compensation funds were initially allocated to Jurema National Park in Mato Grosso, but the decision was overturned, ensuring that 100% of the compensatory resources would be allocated within the state of Para.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Federal Court of the 1st Region allocated R$92 million in environmental compensation to conservation units in Para State, Brazil, owed by Norte Energia S/A for the construction of the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Power Plant.
  • The compensation funds were initially allocated to Jurema National Park in Mato Grosso, but the decision was overturned, and the resources will now cover conservation units that are within the project's impact area in Para State.
  • ICMBio will present the destination accounts for each of these units within 15 days, allowing the resources to be released by court order.
  • The State Policy and System of Conservation Units (PEUC/SEUC) will manage the resources, with Ideflor-Bio allocating part of its allocated resources to the Tabuleiro do Embaubal Wildlife Refuge on the Xingu River to protect the hundreds of turtles that hatch there each year.
  • The decision is historic for the state of Para, as it ensures that the state will benefit from 100% of the compensatory resources, which is a significant improvement over the previous allocation of 27% for conservation units in the state.
  • The State Attorney General's Office (PGE) set a fine example of its commitment to Para and the Amazon rainforest by successfully overturning the court decision regarding the allocation of environmental compensation funds from the Belo Monte Dam.

Statistics:

  • R$92 million allocated in environmental compensation to conservation units in Para State, Brazil.
  • 100% of the compensatory resources will be allocated within the state of Para.
  • ICMBio will present the destination accounts for each unit within 15 days.
  • Resources to be allocated to conservation units in the Xingu River Region, including the Tabuleiro do Embaubal Wildlife Refuge and the Vitoria de Souzel Sustainable Development Reserve.

Sources:

  • Estado de Para (agenciapara.com.br) - "UCs no Para vão ter compensação ambiental pela instalação da usina de Belo Monte" (accessed 2023)