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In the midst of a severe political and ethical crisis, Brazil has suffered several setbacks for environmental conservation. Over the past few months, eagerness to climb out of recession through short-term economic gains combined with the political need to accommodate the powerful Agribusiness Parliamentary Front (40% of the Brazilian Congress) has resulted in a set of bills that will soften environmental licensing1, suspend the ratification of indigenous lands, and reduce protection of 600,000 ha of Amazon and Atlantic Forest. Additionally, on 11 July, President Michel Temer passed a law that permits ‘land thieves’ to legalize their land
holdings easily and cheaply.