ID: 2253
Presenting Author: Liliana Pimentel
Session: 653 - Biodiversity Impact Assessment: Information Disclosure, Risk Identification, and Legal Regulation
Status: pending
ICMBio assesses environmental impacts on federal Conservation Units in Brazil, using EIA to authorize environmental licensing while mitigating and monitoring the pressures on biodiversity.
Environmental Impact Assessment (EIA) was federally regulated in Brazil in 1986, followed by the formalization of environmental licensing procedures in 1997. In 2011, cooperative norms among federal entities were established, and recent legal amendments in 2023 have modified the licensing process. Within the governance framework of the National Environmental Policy, the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) is responsible for assessing the environmental impacts of projects on federal Conservation Units (CUs) and their buffer zones, as established by the 2000 legislation. ICMBio’s authorizations are mandatory for the continuation of licensing procedures: Authorization for Environmental Licensing (ALA) is required for projects subject to EIA/RIMA, while Direct Authorizations (AD) may be issued under specific legal provisions. This institutional arrangement has enabled ICMBio to refine its procedures and enhance monitoring of the specific conditions set in its authorizations. The Institute now holds a robust dataset that supports the evaluation of synergistic and cumulative environmental impacts, as well as the effectiveness of its regulatory measures in mitigating pressures on CUs. This study presents findings from a pilot project conducted in a representative area of the Brazilian Cerrado—one of the country’s most threatened biomes—highlighting the role of EIA in biodiversity conservation and its relevance to achieving global environmental goals amid ongoing ecological crises.
Dr. Liliana Pimentel, Fulbright MIT Fellow (2012), is a senior expert at ICMBio with 30+ years in bioregional planning, landscape ecology, and environmental impact assessment in Brazil.