Brazil’s Supreme Court mandates the seizure of lands involved in illegal deforestation, aiming to curb environmental destruction in the Amazon and Pantanal regions.

On April 28, 2025, Brazil’s Supreme Court Justice Flávio Dino issued a landmark ruling mandating the federal government to seize private properties whose owners are found guilty of illegal deforestation or causing wildfires. This decision also prohibits the process of land regularization, a practice that incentivizes environmental destruction by allowing illegally acquired lands to become legal, especially in the Amazon rainforest. The ruling requires authorities to seek compensation from offenders and applies even to past cases. The case originated from a petition by Rede Sustentabilidade, supported by environmental organizations, calling for stronger environmental protections in the Amazon and Pantanal, regions badly affected by man-made disasters since 2020. Environmental experts hailed the decision as a turning point. Legal researcher Brenda Brito emphasized the significance of banning land titles for illegally deforested areas, and Paulo Busse of Climate Observatory noted its immediate enforceability due to existing court convictions. Agribusiness leaders have not yet responded to the ruling.