A revisão do Código Florestal brasileiro

Abstract

The article offers information and analysis that intend to demonstrate the importance of the Brazilian Forest Act for the protection of the remaining preserved natural vegetation in Brazil, as well as the reasons and guidelines for its revision, in order to reach the possible and desired balance between respect to the natural environment and improved agricultural development.

O mecanismo de compensação de reserva legal e suas implicações econômicas e ambientais

“…The general lack of compliance in relation to legal reserves occurs for a number of reasons, including the constant changes in legal requirements and the imprecise definition of some mechanisms, as well as a lack of government monitoring (SPAROVEK et al, 2011). However, the high opportunity cost of conservation, associated to having to give up opportunities for converting land to profitable uses, as well as the financial costs involved in recovering natural areas affecting rural landowners, are the main factors disclosed in the literature to explain the resistance to maintaining legal reserves, particularly in federal units with intensive land use (GONÇALVES; CASTANHO FILHO, 2006;IRIGARAY, 2007;SPAROVEK et al, 2011).…”

“…In fact, most natural vegetation which could be registered as a legal reserve via compensation is located in regions of lower agricultural value, that is, with lower profitability per area (BONNET et al, 2006;SPAROVEK et al, 2011). Thus, the compensation mechanism may enable the transfer of income between regions, contributing to the reduction of regional inequalities and generating alternatives for local economic development (MARTINS; CHAVES, 2006;.…”

“…According to Sparovek et al (2011), the main problem with using the biome as a limiting factor in the market of legal reserve compensations is that it does not provide geographical guidance as to the areas which should be protected. Therefore, in addition to allowing exchanges between areas which have no ecological equivalence, legal reserve markets based on the biome can prioritize the conservation of certain Brazilian ecosystems in detriment of others (BONNET et al, 2006), as well as the conservation of certain micro river basins in detriment of others (SILVA et al, 2011).…”

“…Particularly in ecosystems under pressure of changing land use (BONNET et al, 2006). In this way, we avoid the risk of exclusively protecting the natural vegetation of remote areas or of regions which have no agricultural potential because they are cheaper (SPAROVEK et al, 2011).…”

“…Whilst analyzing the real repercussions of these different provisions, Sparovek et al (2011) suggest that different factors should be equally considered, including social, economic and ecological aspects, so as to prevent certain interests prevailing over others. It has been emphasized that studies should be developed so as to provide data, enabling the interaction between the biological and the socio-economic perspectives of the different conservation strategies which can assist in the process of improving the planning and implementation of State actions.…”