The Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor and its effect on the environment

Abstract

The Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor is a regional integration project structured in South America, aiming to connect the Atlantic and Pacific oceans by land. Along this international road corridor, encompassing Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Chile, biomes such as the Cerrado and the Pantanal will be affected due to the construction of infrastructure necessary for its operation. Beyond the economic benefits envisioned by the governments of the four countries, businesses, and local populations themselves, it is hypothesized that environmental problems may also arise from the Capricorn Bi-Oceanic Corridor. Thus, based on a legal-theoretical approach, the objectives are to verify how the implementation and operation of the Capricorn Bioceanic Corridor will influence the environment of national territories, and in a second phase, to address biomes in Mato Grosso do Sul, as well as measures to mitigate damage and degradation to the natural environment. This study will also analyze the available means of protection under national and international law and assess whether the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) are being met. The methodology used was deductive, qualitative, and bibliographic research, based on treaties, legislation, articles, and websites. Finally, it was concluded that despite existing regulations, in practice there is a possibility that the natural environment will suffer serious effects if measures to mitigate and/or combat these effects are not taken, such as: periodic assessments of the Corridor's effects on the environment, semi-annual and annual reports that allow for comparison of successful measures and setbacks, and monitoring for the prevention and repression of infractions committed against the environment.