Rio de Janeiro Mainstream Media Stigmatizes Favelas Surrounding Tijuca National Park, Yet Remains Silent on Rapidly Encroaching Luxury Condos and Mansions [OPINION]

Biased article published in the O Globo newspaper’s print edition on December 14, 2024: ‘Tijuca Forest, Surrounded by Favelas and Violence,’ sparks reaction from environmental analyst at ICMBio, who shares her opinion below with RioOnWatch readers. Image source: O Globo

Part of Brazil’s expansive Atlantic Forest, the Tijuca Forest is surrounded by luxury condos and mansions. This could well have been the threat highlighted by the article above, published in the O Globo newspaper on Saturday, December 14, 2024. After all, human occupation poses a challenge to the conservation of urban forests across the world, regardless of whether or not favelas are present. How many mansions have been fined and embargoed by the administrative arm of Brazil’s Ministry of Environment—the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio)—and previously by the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA)? How many apartment complexes have contributed to deforestation around Tijuca National Park, shrinking the natural habitat of its species and intensifying the urban edge impact on the forest? What about the ongoing development along Rua Candido Benício in Jacarepaguá, where asphalt is endlessly laid and relaid, perpetually ignoring a wildlife corridor project that could otherwise maintain the flow of wildlife between Tijuca National Park and Pedra Branca State Park—essential for ensuring the genetic viability of native animal populations in the Tijuca Massif? And what of the power lines cutting across the entire park, creating a wide corridor of highly combustible, invasive exotic plant species—a growing threat in the face of climate change? Urban infrastructure projects, housing for lower, middle, and upper classes, telecommunications towers, industrial and vehicular pollution: the list of threats to the Tijuca Forest is vast and diverse.

Yet, as always, the news about threats points to favelas. Poverty, once again, is blamed for environmental and security threats. Yes, there is organized crime in favelas. Yes, there is organized crime in Copacabana penthouses and Barra da Tijuca gated communities. Yes, drug trafficking occurred in Bolsonaro’s presidential entourage aboard a Brazilian Air Force plane. Drug trafficking also took place in a federal senator’s helicopter, which landed on Federal Deputy Aécio Neves’ family farm. It’s possible to buy drugs on the sandy beaches of Ipanema and to honor militiamen in the National Congress. And yet, on the crime belt map, favelas are the ones that stand out.

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This opinion piece written by Isaura Bredariol, an environmental analyst at ICMBio and socio-environmental team member of the Tijuca National Park, is part of a series created in partnership with the Behner Stiefel Center for Brazilian Studies at San Diego State University, to produce articles for the Digital Brazil Project on environmental justice in the favelas for RioOnWatch.