Spelologists from four states were present at the headquarters of the Brazilian Speloelogical Society (SBE) in Campinas on June 30 to discuss policies for the protection fo Brazilian speleological sites.
Organized by the SBE with the support of the team formed by the agreement for Technical cooperation, the workshop was initiated with a lecture by Clayton Lino about the history of policies for the preservation of the speleological heritage and future perspectives in the face of present-day threats from the environmental legislation of Brazil and the approach to development promoted by the government and private enterprise..
Lino emphasized the need for the involvement of society, especially the entire speleological community, for the establishment of a strategic agenda for the preservation of the speleological heritage; he also highlighted the urgency required for an understanding between the different sectors of society to promote responsible socioeconomic development .
Eleonora Trajano presented some considerations about the New Normative Instruction N° 2 (of Ministry of Environment) which regulates Decree 6.640/2008, which, given the conceptual and methodological inconsistencies from a scientific point of view, makes speleological research unfeasible when her criteria are considered. She pointed out that more profound studies are necessary to increase our knowledge of the underground environment and pointed out the urgency required in the improvement of the formation of professionals involved in granting licenses. She proposed that companies set aside resources for grants for research and training.
Trajano suggested the importance of environmental studies at the beginning of any planning process for new undertakings. More time should be provided for these studies, a move which should guarantee greater safety [reliability] of results and make it possible to anticipate probable modifications required for the undertakings , thus reducing costs and, in the long run, the total time necessary to complete the process.
After the lectures, the public participated with a variety of questions about the need for participation and mobilization of society and the involvement of other environmental sectors. Proposals for the creation of areas of priority for conservation, the review of environmental legislation, the strengthening of the organs for surveillance and licensing, the capacitation of managers and professionals, and the enhancement of environmental education were made.
Among those present, the need for dialogue was clear, as well as for partnerships of environmentalists, the government, and those undertaking the projects in order to understand better the environmental issues.
Marcelo Rasteiro, president of the SBE, pointed out that, although resources are limited, it is possible to advance in relation to the preservation of the Brazilian speleological heritage if the support and participation of all can be obtained.
At the end of the event, Heros Lobo presented the book “O ser humano e a paisagem cárstica” [Humans and the karst landscape], fruit of the partnership between the SBE, Votorantim Cimentos and the RBMA; this was followed by a cocktail of fraternization.
The next workshop on the topic will take place on July 21 at 9 am in the Museum of natural sciences of PUC, during the 6th Meeting of Speleology of State of Minas Gerais (EMESP ) in Belo Horizonte, MG. Links for the presentations:
www.cavernas.org.br/diversos/Fundamentos_Conservacao_Cavernas.pdf
www.cavernas.org.br/diversos/espeleolegis_lino.pdf
www.cavernas.org.br/diversos/espeleolegis_trajano.pdf
More information about the next workshop and the 6º EMESP can be obtained from. www.cavernas.org.br/espeleolegis.asp
