Request for letters to governor of Sao Paulo to save Ribeiraq de Iguape River in Brazil's Atlantic coast rainforest

An urgent action request from Brazil's Movement of Dam Victims, 31 October 1995

Background: The Ribeira de Iguape River is one of the few remaining free-flowing rivers in Brazil's Sao Paulo state, and flows through one of the few remaining vestiges of Brazil's Atlantic Coast rainforest. The Atlantic Coast forest is one of the earth's hotbeds of biodiversity.

In addition, the Ribeira valley is the homeland of 4,000 riverine families, including descendents of former black slaves who found refuge in the valley more than a century ago in communities known as quilombos, and who use the forest sustainably.

A Brazilian aluminum company has proposed a series of hydroelectric dams which would severely impact the river's ecology and the inhabitants of the Ribeira valley.

On October 25, 1995, the State Legislature of Sao Paulo approved Law 802/93 which:

• prohibits construction of hydroelectric dams on the Rio Ribeira de Iguape, until the Ecological-Economic Zoning of the Ribeira valley is completed, and
• prohibits construction of any engineering works which impede the natural flow of the Rio Ribeira do Iguape or impact the environment in the areas of the Atlantic Coast rainforest or the lake estuaries of Iguape and Cananeia, without prior environmental impact analysis.

This is a crucial step forward in stopping the Ribeira dams!!!

However, the governor of Sao Paulo, Mario Covas, has said he plans to veto the legislation. It is crucial that Governor Covas and the state Environmental Secretary, Fabio Feldman receive letters urging the governor to sign the legislation.

[...]

Ask the governor to sign this landmark legislation to protect the Ribeira de Iguape River and the Atlantic Coast rainforest. Please mention that the dams will impact the inhabitants of the quilombos in the Ribeira valley who are seeking recognition of their right to their traditional lands. Urge the governor to take measures to protect the Ribeira valley, and to make it a model of sustainable development in one of the few remaining intact expanses of the Atlantic Coast rainforest.

For more information:

Glenn Switkes,
International Rivers Network
Berkeley, California, USA
tel: +510-848-1155
fax: +510-848-1008
email: glenirn@igc.apc.org

or

Sandra Inez G. Paulino
Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens - Brasil
Rua da Consolacao, 21 - 9 andar - cj91 - centro
01301-000 Sao Paulo, SP
Brazil
telefax: +55-11-256-0839