O ESTATUTO DO PANTANAL (LEI 15.228/2025): EFETIVIDADE E DESAFIOS NA PREVENÇÃO DOS INCENDIOS CRIMINOSOS.

Abstract

This article aims to analyze the effectiveness of the Pantanal Statute (Law No. 15.228/2025) in preventing arson and protecting the environmental integrity of the Pantanal biome. The Pantanal, recognized as one of the largest wetlands on the planet, plays an essential role in climate regulation, biodiversity maintenance, and regional ecological sustainability. However, the significant increase in wildfires in recent decades, largely of criminal origin, has compromised its environmental integrity. Using a legal-descriptive and analytical approach, the study presents the theoretical foundation of Environmental Law and discusses the principles of prevention, precaution, and intergenerational solidarity as the basis of the Statute. The structure and guidelines of the law, its fire management and prevention policies, as well as the difficulties encountered in its practical application, are analyzed. The results indicate that, although the Statute represents a relevant normative milestone, its effectiveness is limited by factors such as resource scarcity, lack of integration between federative entities, and the fragility of environmental oversight. It is concluded that institutional strengthening, valuing local communities, and investing in monitoring technologies are indispensable measures to guarantee the full implementation of the law and the preservation of the biome. Thus, the Pantanal Statute proves to be a fundamental instrument, but still dependent on improvements to consolidate a sustainable and participatory environmental governance model.