Presidential Decrees Exacerbate the Contradiction in Mining Regulations at the Expense of the Environment

This report by the Climate Policy Initiative analyzes how Brazilian mining regulations, specifically the distinction between industrial mining and 'garimpeiro' (artisanal) mining, are being exploited by cooperatives to conduct industrial-scale operations under a weaker regulatory framework. It argues that two February 2022 presidential decrees further exacerbate this contradiction by providing incentives and simplified licensing to these cooperatives, which often operate on a larger scale than major industrial mining companies in the Amazon.

• Presidential Decrees no. 10,965/2022 and no. 10,966/2022 increase the benefits for garimpeiro operations by establishing simplified licensing for small businesses and creating the Support Program for the Development of Artisanal and Small-Scale Mining (Pró-Mape).
• Garimpeiro cooperatives are using the legal framework intended for vulnerable, low-income individuals to conduct industrial-scale mining while avoiding the stricter regulations and preliminary research required for industrial mining concessions.
• Data on gold mining in the Amazon shows that garimpeiro cooperatives often hold larger land areas than major industrial firms; specifically, three cooperatives individually hold larger active mining areas than the industry giant Vale.
• There is a significant disparity in land concentration, with 57 garimpeiro cooperatives holding over 790,800 hectares under PLG permits, compared to 51 mining companies holding approximately 334,800 hectares under mining concessions.
• The lack of required preliminary mineral research for garimpeiro mining permits (PLG) hinders the ability to monitor socio-environmental impacts and combat money laundering.
• The report identifies potential for regulatory reform through Bill 37/2011 and Bill 191/2020 currently in the National Congress, with Bill 37/2011 specifically addressing environmental permitting and a new mining code.

APA

Cozendey, G., Pereira, L., Pucci, R., & Chiavari, J. (2022). Presidential Decrees Exacerbate the Contradiction in Mining Regulations at the Expense of the Environment. Climate Policy Initiative. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/INS-Garimpo-EN-1.pdf

Chicago

Cozendey, Gabriel, Leila Pereira, Rafael Pucci, and Joana Chiavari. Presidential Decrees Exacerbate the Contradiction in Mining Regulations at the Expense of the Environment. Climate Policy Initiative, 2022. https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/INS-Garimpo-EN-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Cozendey |first1=Gabriel |last2=Pereira |first2=Leila |last3=Pucci |first3=Rafael |last4=Chiavari |first4=Joana |title=Presidential Decrees Exacerbate the Contradiction in Mining Regulations at the Expense of the Environment |publisher=Climate Policy Initiative |date=June 2022 |url=https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/INS-Garimpo-EN-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{cozendey2022presidential, author = {Cozendey, Gabriel and Pereira, Leila and Pucci, Rafael and Chiavari, Joana}, title = {{Presidential Decrees Exacerbate the Contradiction in Mining Regulations at the Expense of the Environment}}, institution = {Climate Policy Initiative}, year = {2022}, month = jun, url = {https://www.climatepolicyinitiative.org/wp-content/uploads/2022/04/INS-Garimpo-EN-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }