Brazil is among the main contributors to global biodiversity, which, in turn, provides extensive ecosystem services. Agriculture is an activity that benefits greatly from these ecosystem services, but at the same time is degrading aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems and eroding Brazilian biodiversity. This conflict is growing, as emerging unsustainable legislative proposals that will benefit the agricultural sector are likely to accelerate the decline of biodiversity. One such initiative (Bill 1282/2019) would change Brazil’s “Forest Code” (Law 12,651/2012) to facilitate construction of irrigation dams in Permanent Preservation Areas, a category that includes strips (with or without vegetation) along the edges of watercourses. Two other similar bills are advancing through committees in the Chamber of Deputies. Here we provide details of these three bills and discuss their consequences for Brazil’s biodiversity if they are approved. Expected negative impacts with changes in the legislation include: increased deforestation; siltation; habitat fragmentation; introduction of non-native species; reduction in the availability of aquatic habitats; and changes in biogeochemical process. These proposals jeopardize biodiversity and may compromise the negotiations for an agreement between Mercosur and the European Union.

巴西是全球生物多样性的主要贡献者之一，而全球生物多样性又提供了广泛的生态系统服务。农业是一项从这些生态系统服务中获益匪浅的活动，但同时也导致水生和陆地生态系统退化，并侵蚀巴西的生物多样性。这种冲突正在加剧，因为有利于农业部门的不可持续立法提案的出现可能会加速生物多样性的衰退。其中一项举措（第 1282/2019 号法案）将修改巴西的“森林法典”（第 12,651/2012 号法律），以促进在永久保护区内修建灌溉水坝，该保护区包括沿水道边缘的地带（有或没有植被）。另外两项类似的法案正在众议院委员会审议中。在这里，我们提供这三项法案的详细信息，并讨论如果这些法案获得批准，它们对巴西生物多样性的影响。立法变化的预期负面影响包括： 森林砍伐加剧；淤积；栖息地破碎化；引入非本地物种；水生生境的可用性减少；以及生物地球化学过程的变化。这些提议危及生物多样性，并可能损害南方共同市场和欧盟之间的协议谈判。