Farmer is fined half a million reais for destroying native forests The farmer who was fined more than half a million reais for destroying native forests to make room for plantations in Ponta Grossa, in Campos Gerais do Paraná, deforested an area equivalent to more than 50 football fields. The information comes from the Military Environmental Police, which states that, in total, around 36.4 hectares of vegetation were cut; that is, 364 thousand m². The corporation also highlights that the property is located in the rural district of Itaiacoca, in a Permanent Preservation Area (APP), within the Environmental Protection Area (APA) Escarpa Devoniana. The farmer's name was not released. ? Follow the g1 PR channel on WhatsApp "During the inspection, it was found that the plant species affected by the damage included assa-peixe (Vernonanthura), fern (Blechnaceae), evergreens (Eriocaulaceae), broom (Grazielia intermedia), Lent flower (Chaetogastra herbacea) and lavoisiera (Lavoisiera pulchella), among other species natives." ?The legislation of the Water and Land Institute (IAT), linked to the Government of Paraná, determines that the cutting or suppression of native species requires environmental authorization, regardless of where the trees are located. "As the person responsible for the property did not have environmental authorization to carry out the interventions, two environmental infraction notices were issued, totaling R$542,000 in fines," says the police. The incident was carried out on Friday (10). In addition to the administrative sanctions, the farmer was also notified to appear at the Water and Land Institute (IAT), where he must formalize a Degraded Area Recovery Project (PRAD). The police also claim that he will be criminally liable for the environmental damage found. Read also: Watch video: health professionals bring 'July party' to the home of a cancer patient in palliative care Weather forecast: Paraná starts the week at -0ºC and should end at 34ºC; see where Understand: Woman receives threats against her family, pays R$ 10 thousand to criminals and discovers that she was extorted by her own brother Property is in Ponta Grossa (PR) Environmental Military Police ?Rules for cutting down trees in Paraná The legislation of the Water and Land Institute (IAT), linked to the Government of Paraná, determines that the cutting down of exotic forest species — such as pine, eucalyptus, Japanese grape, chinaberry, among others — does not require any type of prior authorization, unless the trees are in a permanent preservation area. The cutting or suppression of native species — such as araucaria, for example — requires environmental authorization, regardless of where the trees are located. See how to request authorization on the IAT website Most watched videos on g1 Paraná: Read more news on g1 Paraná