O Código Florestal de 2012 sob a ótica do Supremo Tribunal Federal: a consolidação do retrocesso socioambiental / Brazilian Forest Code of 2012 according to the Supreme Court: the consolidation of social and environmental retrogression

Resumo Este artigo objetiva demonstrar que, alem da dificuldade de implementacao das normas ambientais ja existentes, o Direito Ambiental enfrenta novo desafio: a edicao de diplomas normativos tendentes a reduzir direitos socioambientais ja positivados.  O Codigo Florestal de 2012 se insere neste contexto e e, ate o momento, o principal exemplo concretizado de diminuicao da protecao ao meio ambiente, em desrespeito ao principio da vedacao ao retrocesso socioambiental, cuja funcao e garantir que o nivel de protecao alcancado pelos direitos socioambientais nao seja reduzido, impedindo agressoes ao nucleo essencial do direito fundamental ao meio ambiente ecologicamente equilibrado.  Para o estudo dos retrocessos promovidos pela nova legislacao florestal, foi realizado levantamento bibliografico e documental, acompanhado de catalogacao e analise critica do material selecionado.  A metodologia adotada incluiu levantamento, sistematizacao e analise qualitativa dos acordaos do Supremo Tribunal Federal relativos as acoes judiciais que questionavam a constitucionalidade de diversos dispositivos do novo Codigo Florestal.  Ao declarar a constitucionalidade da grande maioria das alteracoes da Lei 12.651/2012, o Supremo Tribunal Federal confirmou e consolidou um conjunto de retrocessos normativos em materia de meio ambiente, esvaziando de modo substancial a orientacao do principio da vedacao ao retrocesso socioambiental. Palavras-chave: Codigo Florestal de 2012; Principio da vedacao ao retrocesso socioambiental; Area de Preservacao Permanente; Reserva Legal; Area Rural Consolidada. Abstract This article aims to demonstrate that, in addition to the difficulty of implementing existing environmental legislation, Environmental Law faces a new challenge: the issue of normative diplomas aimed at reducing social and environmental rights that are already in force. The 2012 Forest Code is part of this context and is, so far, the main example of a reduction in the protection of the environment, in violation of the principle of prohibition of social and environmental retrogression, which function is to ensure that the level of protection achieved by social and environmental rights is not reduced, preventing aggressions to the core of the fundamental right to an ecologically balanced environment. To study the retrogressions promoted by the new forest legislation, a bibliographic and documentary survey was carried out, along with cataloging and critical analysis of the selected material. The methodology adopted included a survey, systematization and qualitative analysis of the Federal Supreme Court decisions concerning lawsuits that questioned the constitutionality of various provisions of the new Forest Code. By declaring the constitutionality of the vast majority of amendments to Law 12,651/2012, the Federal Supreme Court confirmed and consolidated a set of normative setbacks in environmental matters, substantially emptying the principle of prohibition of social and environmental retrogression. Keywords: 2012 Forest Code; principle of prohibition of social and environmental retrogression; permanent preservation area; legal reserve; consolidated rural area.