Direito ambiental e pecuária bovina no bioma pampa: contribuição da certificação e da rotulagem para a sustentabilidade

Abstract

The Pampa biome occupies an extensive area of the State of Rio Grande do Sul, making up 62.2% of its territory. The biome is endowed with rich biodiversity, with at least 3,000 species of plants (many endemic), being 450 species of grasses and 150 of legumes, in addition to hundreds of species of birds. Among the latter, 60 species are considered to be exclusively dependent on the grassland ecosystem. It is present in only one Brazilian state and occupies the smallest territory when compared to other Brazilian biomes. Traditionally, the region under study was destined for cattle ranching, which generated a very low environmental impact and marked the cultural identity of the local inhabitants. The compatibility between territory and economic activity contributes to environmental preservation, since the relationship between agricultural and livestock activities - and other economic activities - with ecosystem services and functions is complex. As a rule, their economic activities benefit, but when using the factors that make up ecosystems, they can bring harm. On the other hand, planned human activity reduces environmental impacts and may even reverse chronic damage. The private sector has mechanisms that add value to economic activities that preserve the environment and ecosystem services. In this sense, as a research problem, there was a need to analyze whether certification and labeling contribute to achieving the objectives and principles established in Law No. right to a balanced environment. Thus, the hypotheses of incompatibility between the agricultural economic activities and the ecosystem services of the Pampa biome and its apparent opposite condition were investigated through bibliographic research, with a conclusion of correspondence prevailing, denoting a possibility of full sustainability. As part of the research line "Environmental Law, Public Policies and Socioeconomic Development", the present investigation was based on the deductive method. [resumo fornecido pelo autor]