The reporting project aims to investigate environmental degradation in the Brazilian rainforest, particularly resulting from deforestation and illegal mining, stemming from the use of billions of public funds in paving projects and the distribution of heavy machinery and vehicles by government agencies without any technical criteria or oversight.
Since 2015, there has been systemic abuse in Brazil with the use of a budgetary mechanism of the Legislative Power called parliamentary amendments. Through these amendments, Brazilian congress members allocate funds for paving public roads and delivering products such as backhoes, cars, and trucks. The press, civil society organizations, and oversight bodies in Brazil have been acting against the lack of transparency and potential misuse of public funds in the parliamentary amendment system.
This investigative project will uncover the impact of parliamentary amendments on the degradation of the Brazilian rainforest.