ENVIRONMENTAL MILITARY POLICE IN BRAZIL: PERFORMANCE, CHALLENGES AND PERSPECTIVES IN ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

Abstract

The Environmental Military Police plays a fundamental role in protecting Brazilian natural resources, acting in the inspection, prevention and repression of environmental crimes. This research analyzes the performance of environmental military police in Brazil, their operational challenges and the effectiveness of environmental policing strategies. The study adopts a bibliographic review methodology and secondary data analysis, examining official reports, academic publications and criminal statistics from the period 2015 to 2025. The results demonstrate that the Environmental Military Police faces significant challenges related to professional training, limited infrastructure and growth of environmental crimes, especially in the Amazon region. Between 2023 and 2024, more than 41,000 environmental crimes were registered in nine Brazilian states, with emphasis on crimes against flora and fauna. Environmental education emerges as an essential preventive strategy, with programs reaching thousands of students annually. It is concluded that institutional strengthening, investment in technology, continuous training and inter-institutional partnerships are fundamental to increase the effectiveness of environmental policing in Brazil.