Mata Atlântica operation identifies 8,300 hectares of illegal deforestation

The Mata Atlântica em Pé 2026 operation, a coordinated environmental enforcement effort across 17 Brazilian states, has resulted in the detection of over 8,300 hectares of illegal deforestation. The initiative, coordinated by the Brazilian Association of Members of the Public Ministry for the Environment (Abrampa) and the Minas Gerais Public Ministry (MPMG) with support from the SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation, utilized satellite monitoring and geospatial intelligence to identify over 1,500 deforestation alerts.

In the state of Paraíba, the operation identified more than 230 hectares of illegal clearing across the municipalities of São Miguel de Taipu, Massaranduba, Alagoa Grande, and Alagoinha. This specific regional action led to 15 notices of violation and approximately R$ 2 million in fines.

Nationally, the operation has issued roughly R$ 100 million in fines. Authorities noted that violators may face further administrative sanctions, including restrictions on the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and limitations on accessing rural credit. While deforestation in the biome has seen a reported decline in recent years, officials emphasized that continuous monitoring is essential to ensure the recovery of affected areas and the accountability of offenders.