✓ verbatim from the press
The Ministry of Environment and Climate Change published on June 17, 2026, Ordinance MMA nº 1.704, updating the National Official List of Threatened Fauna Species. The new version includes 180 species or subspecies and removes 150, totaling 790 threatened species and nine extinct ones. The hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus) was reclassified as Vulnerable (VU), while the black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya) and silky anteater (Cyclopes rufus) were added to the list. ✓
Press quotes (2)
"Publicado em: 17/06/2026 | Edição: 111-B | Seção: 1 - Extra B | Página: 15 Órgão: Ministério do Meio Ambiente e Mudança do Clima/Gabinete do Ministro PORTARIA MMA Nº 1.704, DE 16 DE JUNHO DE 2026 Altera a Portaria MMA nº 444, de 17 de dezembro de 2014, que reconhece como espécies da fauna brasileira ameaçadas de extinção"
"Foram incluídas 180 espécies ou subespécies, como a arara-azul-grande (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus), reclassificada como Vulnerável (VU), o bugio-preto (Alouatta caraya) e o tamanduaí (Cyclopes rufus). Outras 150 espécies foram retiradas da lista."
The update was conducted by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) following conservation status assessments. The document divides species into five categories: Vulnerable (VU), Endangered (EN), Critically Endangered (CR), Possibly Extinct (CR-PE), and Extinct in the Wild (EW). Most listed species are terrestrial invertebrates, with 264 threatened species or subspecies, followed by 242 birds, 123 reptiles, 102 mammals, and 59 amphibians. ✓
Press quotes (3)
"A Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Ameaçadas de Extinção passou por atualização após avaliações do estado de conservação conduzidas pelo Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio)."
"O levantamento inclui mamíferos, aves, répteis, anfíbios e invertebrados terrestres, que foram classificados em cinco categorias: Vulneráveis (VU), Em Perigo (EN), Criticamente em Perigo (CR), Possivelmente Extintas (CR-PE) e Extinta na Natureza (EW)."
"A maior parte das espécies listadas são invertebrados terrestres, com 264 espécies ou subespécies ameaçadas de extinção. Há ainda 242 aves, 123 répteis, 102 mamíferos e 59 anfíbios."
The National Official List of Extinct Fauna Species records nine species: six birds, two amphibians, and one mammal, Vespucci's rodent (Noronhomys vespuccii), which occurred in Fernando de Noronha. Minister João Paulo Capobianco stated that "the list recognizes, before our society and the world, the situation of Brazilian species and also paves the way for building recovery and conservation plans." The document replaces the version published in 2022 and results from joint work with the scientific community and civil society organizations. ✓
Press quotes (3)
"Das nove espécies presentes na Lista Nacional Oficial de Espécies da Fauna Extintas, seis são aves, duas são anfíbios e há um mamífero: o roedor de Vespucci (Noronhomys vespuccii), que ocorria em Fernando de Noronha."
"De acordo com o ministro do Meio Ambiente e Mudança do Clima, João Paulo Capobianco, a lista é um dos instrumentos mais importantes para a proteção da biodiversidade brasileira. "A lista reconhece, perante a nossa sociedade e o mundo, a situação das espécies brasileiras e também abre caminho para a construção de planos de recuperação e de conservação", afirma Capobianco."
"O documento substituiu a última versão publicada em 2022 e resulta de um esforço conjunto com comunidade científica e organizações da sociedade civil."
Ordinance MMA nº 1.704/2026 updated the National Official List of Threatened Fauna Species, adding 180 species or subspecies and removing 150.
The new document totals 790 threatened species or subspecies and nine extinct species.
The update replaced the version published in 2022 and was conducted by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) in partnership with the scientific community and civil society organizations.
Covered by only some sources, or where the accounts diverge.
Covered by only some sources (1)
The list of fish and aquatic invertebrates was updated separately in April 2026.
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What specific technical criteria justified each inclusion and exclusion — documented population recovery, habitat expansion or reduction, reevaluation of historical data, or methodological change in threat criteria?
Why it's still unknown: Press coverage does not detail the individual technical grounds that led to the 180 additions and 150 exclusions. ICMBio conducted the assessments, but the methodology and specific population data per species were not disclosed in the sources consulted.
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What specific regulatory obligations change with reclassification — environmental licensing restrictions, expansion of protected areas, limits on economic use (fishing, extractivism), mandatory action plans?
Why it's still unknown: The sources consulted describe the list as a biodiversity protection instrument and mention it paves the way for recovery plans, but do not specify the concrete legal consequences that adding or removing a species triggers (licensing changes, use restrictions, obligations for projects).
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What legal basis does Ordinance MMA nº 1.704/2026 invoke — which law, article of the Federal Constitution, or superior normative act authorizes the Ministry of Environment to update the threatened fauna list?
Why it's still unknown: Ordinance MMA nº 1.704, dated June 16, 2026, was published in the Official Gazette, but the full text with the preamble citing the legal basis (authorizing law, CF article, prior normative acts) was not reproduced in the sources consulted. The attempt to obtain the complete document returned only the published header.
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Was there prior technical or legal contestation to the publication — opinions from scientific organizations, statements from affected economic sectors (fishing, agriculture, extractivism), public consultations?
Why it's still unknown: Sources mention joint effort with the scientific community and civil society organizations, but do not detail whether there was formal public consultation, statements from economic sectors, or divergent technical opinions during the preparation of the updated list.