Trabalhos técnicos sobre a paleontologia em cavernas: deficiências e uma proposta para fins de estudos ambientais

Technical works in cave paleontology: weaknesses and a proposal for paleontological evaluation of caves for environmental studies. Since 2008, Brazilian law hashes required specific environmental studies to license projects in karst areas. A paleontological assessment is one of them. Based on these studies, several outcomes may result, either allowing the cave to be suppressed or protecting a cave. However, unlike other topics, paleontological study needs an appropriate protocol. Thus, the present work aims to: (i) discuss the current method ascribed by the Brazilian legislation for the preparation of technical reports in paleontology related to environmental assessment reports in caves; (ii) present the limitations for the interpretation of current methodological norms and the difficulty in comparing data between reports; and (iii) propose a systematic method for collecting field data in caves. The current method described in Normative Instruction 2 (IN02/2017) is too basic, preventing uniform data collection development. To address this problem, it is proposed that a standardized field form should be applied, including data required by IN02/2017, besides other items needed for properly characterizing cavities. Standardization aims to allow objective comparison of caves and provide a better basis for decision-making about the paleontological potential of a given cave and/or region. Based on similar procedures applied to other study areas, it is known that this approach results in a better-balanced assessment of caves and their paleontological potential. Once implemented, the method could provide valuable data for a better understanding of how fossils occur in caves in Brazil. Keywords: environmental impacts, fossils, karst areas, caves.