Mato Grosso pushes new environmental regularization rules for family farms

On 16 May, the Câmara Setorial Temática (CST) of the Desembargo Ambiental met at the Assembleia Legislativa of Mato Grosso to discuss the release of environmental embargoes affecting family agriculture. State Environment Secretary Mauren Lazzaretti presented the national context of the new framework, highlighting the implementation of Complementary Law 830/2025, which offers a differentiated, simplified and proportional treatment for infractions by family farmers and small landowners, and Law 13.349/2026, which creates a Simplified Environmental Licensing regime for eligible agri‑forestry activities.

The Public Defender’s Office of Mato Grosso, represented by public defender Silvia Maria Ferreira, urged the state to streamline access to the Cadastro Ambiental Rural (CAR) and to adjust environmental fines for vulnerable producers. The defender called for a qualified technical team and continuous training to help small farmers maintain a regular CAR, avoid embargoes and secure financing. Both officials emphasized that the measures aim to balance forest‑code compliance with legal certainty and the economic viability of family farms in the state.