The Minister of the Environment, Marina Silva, will remain in the presidency of Conama in the body’s new composition.| Photo: Tânia Rêgo/Agência Brasil

The National Council for the Environment (Conama) will have a new board of directors with more than 100 members yet to be defined, according to a presidential decree published this Friday (17) in the Official Gazette (DOU). (see in full)

The measure restructures the formation of the body that has a consultative and deliberative nature on the National Environmental Policy. In the decree, signed by President Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva (PT), environmental and labor organizations from civil society, state and municipal governments and representatives of traditional and indigenous populations will have more participation in the council.

The presidency of Conama will continue with the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change, with Minister Marina Silva, and will also have the participation of representatives of the other 36 ministries. The current composition has only eight ministries – in all, the current board is composed of 36 members (see here).

In the new formation, among the new members are also representatives of business entities, the Commands of the Ministry of Defense (Navy, Army and Air Force), the scientific community, Congress and the Public Ministry in the states.

The restructuring of Conama is part of a decree signed by Lula on the first day of his term in office, in which he ordered the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change to present a proposal regulating the new council within 45 days.