Acre remains among the states with the worst performance in environmental democracy in the Legal Amazon, study shows

? The survey evaluated 120 indicators to measure how the Union and the nine states of the Legal Amazon guarantee transparency, access to information, social participation, access to Justice and protection of socio-environmental rights. Among the states, Mato Grosso (56.7 points), Pará (55.3), Amazonas (43.8) and Maranhão (41.9) received a "regular" rating. Tocantins (39.6), Rondônia (36.2), Amapá (35.8), Acre (35.5) and Roraima (22.8) were in the "bad" range. The state average was 40.8 points. READ MORE: Amid ICMBio's controversial action, AC has the 2nd lowest rate of protection for environmentalists and environmental democracy Families from traditional communities in AC can receive up to R$8,000 to keep the forest standing; Find out more Acre records four fires in the 1st quarter of 2026, says Inpe According to the study, the protection of environmental defenders was the most critical aspect evaluated. The state average for this indicator was just 15.1 points. The research also points out that only Mato Grosso, Maranhão and Pará have their own protection mechanisms for environmental defenders. According to Transparency International Brazil and ICV, most states still do not have structures capable of preventing risks, protecting activists and responding appropriately to situations of violence against people who work to defend the environment. Acre appears among the states with a "bad" rating in the Environmental Democracy Index (IDA), released by the Instituto Centro de Vida (ICV) and Transparência Internacional Brasil Reproduction/Instituto Centro de Vida (ICV) and Transparência Internacional Brasil What does the study recommend? The survey concludes that the protection agenda for environmental defenders is still poorly institutionalized in the Legal Amazon. For researchers, states need public policies aimed at preventing threats, protecting activists and confronting cases of violence. Among the study's recommendations is the approval, by the Senate, of the Escazú Agreement, an international treaty aimed at guaranteeing the rights of environmental defenders. The document also proposes to expand protection programs, encourage social participation in environmental issues and create specialized structures in the environment, land issues and indigenous peoples in the Judiciary, the Public Ministry, the Public Defender's Offices and the police. Protection of environmental defenders Acre's low performance in the indicator of protection for environmental defenders had already been highlighted in the 2025 edition. Furthermore, the publication of the survey occurred amid the repercussion of Operation Suçuarana, carried out by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) in the Chico Mendes Extractive Reserve, in Xapuri. The action to combat environmental crimes provoked protests from residents and highlighted the debate about the safety of leaders who work to defend the environment. Raimundo Mendes de Barros is one of the environmental leaders of Xapuri Reproduction/Instagram On the occasion, one of the leaders who reported threats was Raimundo Mendes de Barros, known as "Raimundão", cousin of Chico Mendes and one of the main references of the extractive movement in Acre. The Chico Mendes Committee, made up of family members of the rubber tapper leader, released a public statement in defense of Raimundão and stated that he had been suffering threats for acting in defense of the forest and traditional communities. VIDEOS: g1