Environmentalism in Rio Grande do Sul refers to the movement constituted by scientists and laymen in defense of the environment of the Brazilian state of Rio Grande do Sul. Although there are some records of protests against environmental destruction as early as the 19th century, a more consistent movement only took shape in the mid-20th century, following scientific advances and realizing that the destruction and emerging threats at this time were already significant. Since then, environmentalism has proven to be a topic of growing popular appeal.
A pioneer of Brazilian environmentalism, the state has a significant history in this field, and has often presented innovative proposals. Rich in biodiversity, Rio Grande do Sul has developed a series of initiatives for the promotion of research, teaching and dissemination of ecological concepts, both in public and private spheres; the government has made and continues to make large investments in projects of various kinds, such as sanitation, the recovery of degraded areas and the creation of protected areas. There are multiple environmental associations, cooperatives and NGOs, which promote activism and present promising practical results, and the subject is developed in schools and communities, in general with good receptiveness.
However, the state also faces the issues of pollution, deforestation and desertification, among others, and is suffering the impacts of progressive global warming, which pose important challenges for its future development, besides having a long list of endangered species, many of them already considered locally extinct or in the process of imminent disappearance. In addition, enforcement is often precarious, hampered by chronic shortages of human and material resources, and reports of abuses are frequent. The controversies about the theme are also great, generating deadlocks, and powerful political and economic interests that oppose it hinder the advance of the matter. In recent years, the state environmental legislation has been drastically weakened.