Gilmar Mendes suspends proceedings on Santa Catarina law that restricts forest protection

Minister Gilmar Mendes, of the Federal Supreme Court, ordered the suspension of all proceedings that discuss, in all instances of Justice, the validity of a law from Santa Catarina that limits the protection of native forests in mountainous areas at altitudes above 1,500 meters .

Gilmar Mendes justified the suspension of the proceedings due to the risk of legal uncertainty caused by conflicting judicial and administrative decisions. The decision will be submitted to the full court.

The action against the state law was filed by the Attorney General's Office (PGR). According to the PGR, the law is incompatible with the federal law that protects the Atlantic Forest. This legislation recognizes, based on IBGE criteria, the existence of protected ecosystems also below the 1,500-meter band.

The suspension of the proceedings responds to a request from the state governor, Jorginho Mello (PL), who maintains that the validity of the rule has already been recognized by the STF, when the First Chamber denied an appeal on the matter.

The governor also claims that the Brazilian Institute of the Environment (Ibama) has ignored state legislation and fined companies that operate in accordance with it, applying rules from the National Environmental Council (Conama) that conflict with Santa Catarina law.