VZCZCXRO7479
PP RUEHRG
DE RUEHBR #0265 0371905
ZNR UUUUU ZZH
P 061905Z FEB 06
FM AMEMBASSY BRASILIA
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 4433
INFO RUEHRI/AMCONSUL RIO DE JANEIRO 1463
RUEHSO/AMCONSUL SAO PAULO 6284
RUEHRG/AMCONSUL RECIFE 4284

UNCLAS BRASILIA 000265 
 
SIPDIS 
 
SIPDIS 
 
PLEASE PASS TO STATE FOR JMCALPINE OES/ETC, WPOPP WHA/BSC; 
USFS FOR MZWEEDE AND EMAHEW; 
USFWS FOR RGIOVENGO USFWS; 
NATIONAL PARKS SERVICE FOR JPUTNAM 
 
E.O. 12958: N/A 
TAGS: SENV TBIO KSCA BR
SUBJECT: AN AMENDED FOREST CONCESSIONS BILL PASSES THROUGH BRAZIL'S 
SENATE 
 
REF: 05 BRASILIA 2426 
 
¶1. Summary: Brazil's Forest Concessions Bill (reftel) was approved 
by the Senate on Wednesday, February 2.  However, three amendments 
were added to the bill.  Accordingly, the bill must now return to 
the Chamber of Deputies (Brazilian House of Representatives) for a 
second vetting.  If passed, the legislation would establish 
guidelines for managing public forests, create a National Forest 
Service and set up a National Forest Development Fund (PNDF). End 
Summary 
 
¶2. In the wake of political infighting, the government closed an 
accord with opposition leaders to break a deadlock and bring a 
modified bill to the floor vote on Wednesday.  Of the three newly 
incorporated amendments, the first insures that Congress has final 
authority to approve concessions over 6250 acres, the second that 
the Senate confirms the appointed directors of the newly created 
forest service and the third stipulates that the executive council 
overseeing forest service and PNDF be comprised of seven ministries, 
among which are the Ministries of Science and Technology, 
Agriculture and Defense, as opposed to just the Ministry of 
Environment. 
 
¶3. For the ruling party, and those in favor of the bill, the 
amendments represent another obstacle to forest management.  But, 
proponents of the bill agreed to support the amendments on a promise 
from that the opposition would push for an immediate vote on the 
bill when it reaches the Chamber of Deputies.  The Chamber has 10 
days from Wednesday to appraise and vote anew on the bill. 
 
¶4.  Comment: The outcome of yesterday's vote is complex.  Although 
positive on the surface, environmentalists worry that the new 
amendments unnecessarily politicize forest management.  Compounding 
these concerns, if the Chamber further modifies the bill, sending it 
back to the Senate, there is worry that insufficient time exists to 
pass the bill prior to the election year slowdown.  Fernando Lyrio 
of the Ministry of the Environment told Scicon that while the 
Ministry is concerned by the amendments it is pleased with the 
bill's passage.  Post will provide additional updates as events 
develop. End Comment 
 
CHICOLA