A Brazilian Supreme Court justice on April 28 ordered the federal government to seize private properties when owners are found responsible for illegal deforestation or wildfires, AP reported.
The ruling also calls for halting the process known as regularization, by which land grabbers are granted title to stolen lands, even when they have illegally destroyed forest on those lands.
Regularization has been one of the primary drivers of deforestation in the Amazon, AP reported.
In addition, the ruling further requires the government to seek compensation from landowners who have illegally and intentionally destroyed forests.
The Brazilian government could potentially try to reclaim lands illegally deforested years ago, as the ruling did not specify a timeframe, according to the AP.
