AbstractsLaw & Legal Studies

Deforestation and protection of wildlife are of increasing concern in the Brazilian Amazon. The consequences of these problems could be incalculable and could change the biosphere integrity. National legislation does not seem to follow international obligations set forth in environmental conservation treaties. The effectiveness of domestic legislation has not adequately succeeded in halting the loss of biodiversity integrity. In view of that, the present thesis describes some of the Brazilian obligations assumed in specific, significant international treaties regarding nature conservation in the Brazilian Amazon. It analyses the Brazil’s international obligations with the aim of discovering its principal rights and duties. These are then compared with the relevant national legislation and active programmes dealing with Amazonian conservation. Finally, the enforcement weaknesses that contribute to the ineffectiveness of national law are discussed with an evaluation emphasizing the compliance system.