Organized Population Builds a Popular Initiative Law to Halt the Advance of Mining Exploration and Ensure Environmental Protection with Direct Community Participation
Rural and urban communities of Itarantim, in the southwest of Bahia State (Brazil), launched a campaign in May this year to mobilize a Popular Initiative Law aimed at protecting the region’s mountains, springs, and groundwater recharge zones from high-risk environmental activities.
The proposal emerged in response to the socio-environmental impacts caused by mining and fears that this activity could spread into territories essential for the survival of traditional communities and family farming.
The campaign was discussed at the seminar “Let’s Save the Mountains and Waters – A Debate on the Protection of the Mountains of Itarantim-BA”, organized by the town’s Popular Environmental Commission—an autonomous organization bringing together representatives from various sectors of Itarantim’s society.
The establishment of the Popular Commission and the law proposal followed a Public Hearing held in August 2024, after community reports about a mining exploration company operating in areas without the landowners’ permission.
The process involved rural and urban populations, through associations, churches, and schools, all concerned about the lack of information on local mining processes and the potential impacts of the activity.
Popular Mobilization and Territorial Defense
According to reports published by the Rio Pardo Vivo and Corrente Observatory, popular mobilization began when an exploration company entered community lands without owners’ consent in 2024. At the time, residents of the Água Vermelha community organized a blockade to demand explanations from the company regarding its procedures. The action resulted in the company’s expulsion from the area.
After the public hearing “Exploration and Mining in the Mountains Surrounding Itarantim-BA”, other communities followed Água Vermelha’s example and denied the company permission to operate on their properties.
Mirian Silva (CEAS) stated: “This was an important example for communities, since companies rarely explain to the population what the exploration involves, what the procedures are, or what the future mining project plans to do in that territory.”
She emphasized that this resistance “shows communities that they are not obligated to allow such procedures and that they have the right to be informed and consulted in advance, especially when the future of their territory is at stake.”
The hearing inspired communities to form the Popular Environmental Commission, which includes representation from rural communities, urban associations, sectors of both Catholic and Protestant churches, as well as students and basic education professionals.
“Let’s Save the Mountains and Waters” Bill
The Popular Initiative Law drafted by the Popular Environmental Commission aims to designate the municipality’s mountains as natural, scenic, and touristic heritage sites, protected from high-impact environmental activities such as mining.
The proposal defines the following areas as preservation zones: Mandim, Córrego do Nado, Água Vermelha, Três Pontas Mountain (the town’s postcard), Lôdo, Gameleira, Palmeiras, Corgão, Jundiá, Pau Sangue, Córrego D’água, Água Preta, Meriqui, Rancho Queimado, Feliciço, Serra Azul, and Góia.
According to Joaci Cunha (CEAS), “These areas are vital for the water security of both rural and urban populations, as they are home to the springs of various rivers in the Jundiá, Palmeiras, Córrego do Nado, Córrego D’água, Pau Sangue, Gameleira, and Taquaruçu river basins, which all contribute to the Pardo River Basin.”
Beyond mining, the bill also prohibits deforestation, burning, projects that severely alter the natural landscape, and the use of pesticides classified as “extremely” or “highly toxic” by Brazil’s National Health Surveillance Agency (ANVISA).
This ensures the conservation of key groundwater recharge areas, protecting family farming and livestock production—critical to the municipality’s economy—as well as maintaining water quality for the urban population.
Maicon Leopoldino noted, “The proposal aligns with the principles of participatory democracy, allowing the population to submit draft legislation directly to the City Council, backed by at least 5% of the local electorate.”
He stressed that the law does not aim to ban mining in the municipality, but rather “to safeguard the main mountains and highlands, production zones, and groundwater recharge areas of the main rivers and streams, in addition to underground water reserves.”
Dona Helena, a resident of urban Itarantim, said the petition campaign was well received: “People even asked me: ‘Can I sign more than once?’ and I said: ‘No, you can’t!’ [laughs]—but folks are very engaged.”
She recalled a similar mobilization in 2012, when the community proposed and passed a popular law to ban eucalyptus monoculture: “I’m seeing even more interest [now] than with the petition we made against the ‘green desert’ […], people are really more involved. Thank God for that, because we’ve had enough of so many illnesses.”
“A Cry in Defense of the Waters”
The popular movement evolved into an intense dialogue with society about protecting productive and environmental territories from mining. In June, during Environment Month, rural and urban communities held the demonstration “A Cry in Defense of the Waters” to present the Popular Initiative Law.
The event, organized by the Popular Environmental Commission, brought together workers’ associations, religious communities, popular organizations, and rural associations previously affected by mining conflicts in 2024. The march passed through the city’s main streets and concluded at the City Council, where a public hearing was held to present the proposal to the legislative body.
According to Maria de Lourdes, president of the Água Vermelha Association—known as Lia—it was “a very important and meaningful demonstration” for the municipality: “What we’re defending is a common good for all residents of Itarantim and the region: to protect our mountains and springs.”
In just one month, the petition campaign for the law gathered signatures from over a thousand registered voters—exceeding the 5% required to propose a Popular Initiative Law.
After submitting the bill to the council, it will be debated and then voted on by local legislators. The Commission announced that it will continue collecting signatures to keep the conversation going with the public about the risks of mining in Itarantim.
Aldenice Barros, a representative of the Popular Commission, stressed the importance of ongoing mobilization to raise public awareness: “People need to wake up to the reality of the environmental and climate problems we are facing, because they will affect us directly.”
Data from the National Mining Agency (ANM) show that Itarantim, like other municipalities in the mid-southwest of Bahia, is undergoing intense mining speculation. There are 171 mineral exploration authorization processes underway, many in environmentally sensitive areas crucial to family farming and livestock.
Among the minerals being explored are strategic resources for the energy transition, such as niobium and lithium. Fabiano Paixão (MAM) warns: “If speculation over these minerals continues as it is—without dialogue and without public participation—it will likely lead to many conflicts between companies and communities, since the interests of mining capital are entirely incompatible with those of the people.”
The movement organized by the Popular Environmental Commission of Itarantim is supported by the Rio Pardo Vivo and Corrente Network, the Center for Studies and Social Action (CEAS), and the Movement for Popular Sovereignty in Mining (MAM).
By Mateus Britto – Movement for Popular Sovereignty in Mining (MAM-BA)