Santo Antônio do Itambé (Brazil) Municipal Organic Law: rights of Serra do Itambé

Summary

In March 2024, the municipality of Santo Antônio do Itambé in the state of Minas Gerais, Brazil adopted an amendment to its Organic Law to recognize rights to nature within the municipality. The proposal states that the idea of ​​nature rights seeks to transform the legal framework based on a change in development objectives, and to that end, recognize that Nature, especially the Espinhaço mountain range, must be duly protected and recognized in the highest legislation of the municipality.

The legislation states: The objective of this proposal is to incorporate into the text of our Organic Law the legal ownership of Nature, specifically the Serra do Itambé mountain range in Santo Antônio do Itambé-MG, establishing a symbolic date for the celebration of “Pico do Itambé Day,” a moment that connects the identity of Itambé with the mountains that are part of the Serra do Espinhaço mountain range in the municipality.

It explains that establishing a “Day of the Pico do Itambé” recognizes the need to maintain and reclaim the Itambé community’s connection with the Serra do Itambé mountain range, the rivers, and the Pico do Itambé peak, thus making it possible to create a collective voice defending the landscape, culture, and environment, representing the identity of the people of Itambé.

The proposal argues that making this modification to the Organic Law of the Municipality of Santo Antônio do Itambé balances the municipal order with the Brazilian Constitution, which grants the right of all to an ecologically balanced environment, and it also connects municipal legislation with the global discussions on the Rights of Nature, bringing the Itambé community into an important dialogue about living in harmony with Nature.