On October 17, 2019, Brazilian Federal Law No. 13,887, which amends Federal Law No. 12,651 ("Forestry Code"), was published. The Forestry Code provides for the protection of native vegetation, Permanent Preservation Areas ("APP") and legal reserve areas from exploitation.

Federal Law No. 13,887 amends Article 29, §3 of the Forestry Code to protect indefinitely all rural property and possessions, providing that the owners register in the Rural Environmental Registry ("CAR"). That is, the CAR protection is now permanent, which brings greater legal certainty.

Finally, the new law also provides that owners of rural properties that enroll in CAR by the end of the day December 31, 2020, will be entitled to join the Environmental Regularization Program ("PRA") to be implemented by the states. However, if the states and the Federal District do not implement that PRA until December 31, 2020, rural property owners may join the PRA already established by the Federal Union.

Visit us at Tauil & Chequer

Founded in 2001, Tauil & Chequer Advogados is a full service law firm with approximately 90 lawyers and offices in Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and Vitória. T&C represents local and international businesses on their domestic and cross-border activities and offers clients the full range of legal services including: corporate and M&A; debt and equity capital markets; banking and finance; employment and benefits; environmental; intellectual property; litigation and dispute resolution; restructuring, bankruptcy and insolvency; tax; and real estate. The firm has a particularly strong and longstanding presence in the energy, oil and gas and infrastructure industries as well as with pension and investment funds. In December 2009, T&C entered into an agreement to operate in association with Mayer Brown LLP and become "Tauil & Chequer Advogados in association with Mayer Brown LLP."

© Copyright 2019. Tauil & Chequer Advogados, a Brazilian law partnership with which Mayer Brown is associated. All rights reserved.

This article provides information and comments on legal issues and developments of interest. The foregoing is not a comprehensive treatment of the subject matter covered and is not intended to provide legal advice. Readers should seek specific legal advice before taking any action with respect to the matters discussed herein.