Dear Mr. Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva,
The President of the Republic Taking into account that the Brazilian Savannah is the biome that has most suffered destruction in the last years, currently remains less than 20% of its original distribution, a situation that puts its natural heritage in severe jeopardy; Knowing that the Serra da Canastra National Park, in the State of Minas Gerais, is an irreplaceable and fundamental area for the Brazilian Savannah protection, with an immense biological, ecological, geological, historical, landscape and social-economic values: Emphasizing that the Park's integrity is threatened by private interests, especially by the pressure of large-size international companies, mining companies and rural properties; Being aware that the Bill 1448/2007 intends to reduce by 48,000 hectares the Serra da Canastra National Park area, corresponding to 25% of its extension; Remembering that the IBAMA has already presented technical proposals of feasible solutions, in the short run, for all the problems pointed by the people that support the modification of the National Park's boundaries, since the diamond research issue to the Land tenure regularization of the area; For the benefit of the Brazilian Society; We would like to express our support to the maintenance of the Serra da Canastra Natural Park's present boundaries, to the protection of its territory of 198,380.00 hectares, as provided in the Creation Decree no. 70355, as of April 3, 1972, and we do hereby state to be against the Bill 1448/2007, which provides the reduction by 25% of that extremely important protected area. Carbon copy to: Ms. Marina Silva Minister of Environment Ms. Dilma Vana Rousseff Minister of Home Affairs Senator Romero Jucá Head of the Government in Senate Representatives of the Environment Committee (List of Representatives) |