Understanding The Problem

Judicial Scenario

The first action stemming from the creation of Serra da Canastra National Park was a compulsory purchase filed in the Federal Justice in the year 1976, almost forty years ago. Today there are still tens of actions (criminal, environmental, economical) pouring into the court every year. Many of them have been decided, but an effective judicial answer to the conflict has not yet been reached. The scenario is currently of widespread conflict between several interests and, sadly, people.

The Serra da Canastra National Park – SCNP was created in 1972, and it comprises the Chapadão da Canastra (North mountains) and Chapadão da Babilônia (south mountains), embracing an area of 494211 acres. However, only 176680 acres have been implemented. The remaining land has been the stage for grievous interest conflicts between environmental preservation, mining, tourism, agriculture, social and cultural heritage, etc.

Understanding the problem...

Legislative Scenario

There are currently two bills proposing the redefinition of the Park’s limits, reconciling the conflicting interests. Bills 147 and 148, year 2010, have been filed at Brazil’s House of Representatives by Congressmen Carlos Melles, Fernando Gabeira and Odair Cunha, and are currently in the Senate (Senator Rodrigo Rollemberg). There is still no consensus about it, and there is not either any perspective of an early definition.

Environmental Scenario

The failure to build an effective solution to the problem, the lack of resources to compensate inhabitants for their lands and the widespread and growing animosity have been hurting the environmental goals for the region, that, besides the cradle of Saint Francis River and many others, is the home of threatened species such as the canastra armadillo, the giant anteater, the guará wolf and the Brazilian merganser (the last has in the Canastra Park almost half its world total population of less than three hundred).

Social Scenario

Canastra region shelters families that produce, since the nineteenth century, the traditional Canastra Cheese, officially recognized by the Brazilian law as a national heritage since 2008. They live in a situation of juridical instability: when, in 1972, they have left the first part of the park, during military dictatorship, they have been paid by public bonds to be rescued only after thirty years. Currently they disagree with the Park limits as proposed by the environmental agencies, which do not admit the human presence in the land.

Diamond and Quartzite mining, wich has taken place under governmental authorization for decades, has been stopped since 2006. Academic sources say that quartzite mining used to give Jobs to thousands of miners, today working in informality. Diamond mining on locations Canastra 1 and Canastra 8 have also been suspended. Academic sources say the first one’s viability and high economic perspectives have been already confirmed.

Economic Scenario

WARNING: all information presented has been freely placed aiming at creating better conditions for stakeholders, society and schools to exchange knowledge. For exact data, we suggest acces to environmental agencies' official websites and scientific studies (v.g., "Entre a regulação e a emancipação social: desafios à continuidade do lugar frente ao Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra" – MG - Vanessa Samora Fernandes – Sociologia – UFMG; "A regularização fundiária no Parque Nacional da Serra da Canastra e a expropriação camponesa: da baioneta à ponta da caneta. Gustavo Cepolini Ferreira – Geografia – USP"; CHAVES, Mario Luiz de Sá Carneiro; ANDRADE, Kerley Wanderson; BENITEZ, Leila e BRANDAO, Paulo Roberto Gomes. PROVÍNCIA DIAMANTÍFERA DA SERRA DA CANASTRA E O KIMBERLITO CANASTRA-1: PRIMEIRA FONTE PRIMÁRIA DE DIAMANTES ECONOMICAMENTE VIÁVEL DO PAÍS. Geociênc. (São Paulo) [online]. 2008, vol.27, n.3, pp. 299-317. ISSN 0101-9082.)