Brazil Senate slashes Jamanxim forest area by 486,000 hectares

The Brazilian Senate approved a fast‑track bill (PL 2.486/2026) on 15 July 2026 that reduces the Jamanxim National Forest in Pará from about 1.3 million hectares to roughly 815 000 hectares. The legislation converts 486 000 hectares of the forest into an Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA), a protection category with looser rules that permits agro‑industrial activities, mining and other economic uses. The measure, authored by deputy Isnaldo Bulhões Jr. and backed by Senator Jader Barbalho, is presented as a way to regularise long‑standing irregular occupations and to provide legal certainty for productive activities. Critics warn the downgrade could accelerate illegal deforestation and land grabbing. Supporters argue the change could facilitate the Ferrogrão railway project, which aims to link Sinop to the port of Miritituba for grain export. The bill revives provisions of a 2017 provisional measure that had been vetoed after environmental pressure. Senator Barbalho said, “A recategorização de parte do território permite disciplinar ocupações consolidadas e reconhecer atividades produtivas preexistentes.” The proposal now proceeds to presidential sanction.