SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT AND BIODIVERSITY IN TOCANTINS: INEFFECTIVENESS OF ENVIRONMENTAL LAW DUE TO LACK OF OVERSIGHT AND WEAKENED PUBLIC POLICIES

Abstract

This paper addresses sustainable development and biodiversity in Tocantins, considering the possible ineffectiveness of Environmental Law in the face of a lack of oversight and weakened public policies. Discussions on sustainable development are premises that advocate environmental preservation, including protection that directly impacts local biodiversity. Thus, the following questions are raised: How can law act to reconcile economic development with biodiversity conservation, preventing environmental degradation and promoting sustainable use of natural resources? What legal mechanisms can be improved to ensure more effective protection? The general objective of the study is to analyze the role of law in sustainable development and biodiversity protection, focusing on Brazilian public policies and environmental legislation in Tocantins. The specific objectives are to understand the global concept of sustainable development, verify advances and gaps in Brazilian legislation on biodiversity, with emphasis on Law No. 13.123/2015, and present concrete cases that illustrate the ineffectiveness and challenges in the application of environmental laws in the state of Tocantins. Among the main results, it is worth highlighting that environmental legislation establishes the standards that regulate the use of the environment due to the need to guide the execution of activities. The initial assumption regarding the lack of monitoring and the fragility in the implementation of environmental public policies in Tocantins was confirmed as a result of the difficulty in protecting biodiversity. Therefore, there is a constant need to improve the standards based on improved monitoring, training of environmental agencies and active participation of civil society with regard to environmental protection.