The Brazilian Speleological Society (SBE) held its second workshop on “Fundamentals for speleological legislation” on July 21 in the Museum of Natural History in Belo Horizonte MG, during the 6th Meeting of Speleology of State of Minas Gerais (6° EMESP).
The objective was the divulgation of the document “Fundamentals for the conservation of caves”, launched by the SBE in June and presented at the begininning of the workshops, as well as progress in the discussions about how to protect this rich heritage.
Jocy Brandão Cruz, Head of the Brazilian National Center for Studies of Caves and their Conservation (ICMBio/CECAV), presented aspects related to the application of the Normative Instruction MMA nº 2 of 2009 (IN-2), a document which presents the methodology for classification of the relevance of caves. Jocy showed the difficulty in applying the methodology and how CECAV intends to conduct the work of the Committee of Review of the IN-2 to solve the problems identified. According to this professional, the methodology has sensitive po9ints which should be reviewed, points of monitoring and evaluation to prove its efficacy and points of orientation, where definitionsa are not yeat clear. He pointed out that the participation of the speleological community is extremely important, especially in establishing clear definitions; moreover, he reminded theaudience that the documents sent to the committee are under consideration and will serve as a basis for the revision of the norm.
Luis Beethoven Piló, research worker andconsultant specialized in karst environemnts, presented the physical fundamentals of the present legislation, lilsting the attributes utilized for the classificationof caves according to Decree 6.640/2008 and IN-2. Piló pointed out that the physical fundamentals are well represented in the legislation, but that they are poorly distributed, withsome parametyers, sukch speleometry and chemical deposits being over-emphasized, while others such as clastic and organic deposits and hydrology are under-represented. He also pointed out that the lack of conceptual precision and the subjectivity of some of the attributes, such as as single morphology or esceptional speleothems make the ap0ppoi8cation of the methodology uncertain [problematic? Difficult?] ; the inter-relationship between parameters eliminates the possibility of a systematic evaluation.
Clayton Lino, President of the Biosphere Reserve of the Atlantic Coastyal Rain Forest, presented the history of policies and legislation dedicated to the spele9ological heritage. Lino pointed out that the Decree 6.640/2008 is a step backward, accompanying the envorinmental policy of the federal government. He emphasized that we should not focus only on attempts to improve the IN-2, since it is based on Decree and maintains the mistakes found in this document; he emphasized that we should fight for legislation and public policies which are truly focused on conservation of this heritage, utilizing other instruments such as the creation of units of conservation, and state or municipal legilstation, as well as advancing in the approval of a federal law for caves.
After the two workshops and ample discussions with the speleological community, it is clear that the change in the legilstion made without a solid foundation does not meet the needs of conservation of the Environmental heritage nor those of national development. We must work to have legislation which provides security, reconciling different legitimate interests ; the only way to do this is the increase articulation of all those involved, including the civil society, scientific community, entrepreneurs, and government in a way that is always open in a search for the common good
Links to the presentations:
www.cavernas.org.br/diversos/Fundamentos_Conservacao_Cavernas.pdf
www.cavernas.org.br/diversos/espeleolegis_jocy.pdf
www.cavernas.org.br/diversos/espeleolegis_lino.pdf
Source: SBE Notícicas nº 234 – www.cavernas.org.br/sbenoticias/SBENoticias_234.pdf
By Marcelo Augusto Rasteiro (SBE 1089) – President of the SBE
