‘These fires are criminal’, says president of ICMBio about fires in western Pará

The Federal Government sent the president of the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio), Mauro Pires, to evaluate the fire outbreaks in western Pará. Since Sunday (08), he received representatives from bodies from different spheres to discuss combating the outbreaks. After pressure, it also received indigenous leaders who demanded more effective inspections and investigations into the fire.

The president of the Tapajós-Arapiuns Indigenous Council (CITA), Lucas Tupinambá, was among the leaders who spoke with the federal government representative. “We requested the federalization of investigations into the criminal fires that are taking place”, he highlighted.

After meeting with indigenous people, Mauro Pires also met with the Federal Police, the Federal Highway Police and the National Force. He highlighted that this meeting was to ask for more reinforcement in the activities of agencies in the region.

"It is essential for us to investigate who is responsible for this type of crime. With the arrival of the National Force, reinforcing the overt inspection to prevent people from committing this type of crime, which harms everyone", he pointed out.

Pará occupies first place in the ranking of fires this month, according to INPE. In the first 11 days of November, the state has already registered 4,641 outbreaks. The most affected municipalities are in the west and southwest of Pará.

In addition to the inspection actions, ICMBio announced the reinforcement of 100 brigade members to operate in the west of the state.

In addition to the inspection actions, ICMBio announced the reinforcement of 100 brigade members to operate in the west of the state. The servers have already started to arrive in Santarém, they will be transferred to more critical areas, such as the Mulata National Forest, in Alenquer.

"Our priority is more active action in this region, as well as in indigenous territories. For us to make an effort, to continue the fight in these actions, to be very effective" said the president.