UNEP Initiative on Capacity Building for Integrated Assessment and Planning for Sustainable Development

Mid-term Review Meeting

Geneva, February 16-17, 2005

Brazil: Enhancing the Capacity for Integrated Assessment and Planning in the Context of the

Brazilian Amazon Sustainable Plan: The Soybean Sector in the BR163 Road Influence Area

Some General Features

Brazilian Federation – 27 states (5600 municipalities)

Brazil – 8.5 millions Km2

Amazon Region (9 states) – 5 millions Km2 = 60%

Population:

Brazil - 180 millions

Amazon Region – 23 millions = 12% (in 1980 = 8%)

Rate of urbanization:

Brazil – 81%

Amazon Region – 68%

Brazil: 1st world’s soybean exporter

Figura 1: Área de Influência da BR 163.PLANO DE DESENVOLVIMENTO REGIONAL SUSTENTÁVEL DA ÁREA DE INFLUÊNCIA DA RODOVIA BR-163

Objective of the Project

Enhance the capacity of the Brazilian government and national institutions to undertake integrated assessment and planning for sustainable development, for the consolidation of the Sustainable BR163 Highway Plan.

Addressing sustainable agriculture, environmental management, poverty alleviation, and sustainable trade promotion.

Assessing the planning procedural and substantive aspects of the plan that take into account social, economic and environmental linkages and causalities.

Introducing legitimate participatory methods in the planning process and decision-making that involve all relevant stakeholders.

Expected Outcome

The development of an integrated assessment and planning method replicable to the remainder of the PAS region

A final document containing the results of the assessment studies, both procedural and substantive, with sustainable development policy recommendations for the BR163 influence area

The strengthening of the transversal (integrated planning and decision-making) management policy

Institutional Arrangement

Leading government institutions– Ministry of the Environment – Ministry of the National Integration

Facilitating National Institution– Centre for Sustainable Development of the

University of Brasília (CDS)

Institutional Arrangement

Civil House of the Republic Presidency* Ministry of the National Integration – MI* Ministry of the Environment – MMA* Ministry of the Planning, Budget and Administration – MP* Ministry of the Transport - MT Ministry of the Agrarian Development - MDA Ministry of the Development, Industry and Trade - MDIC Ministry of Mines and Energy - MME Ministry of the Cities – MCid Ministry of the Justice – MJ Ministry of the Health – MS Ministry of the Education – MEC Ministry of Social Development – MDS Ministry of the Labour and Employment – MTE Ministry of the Agriculture, Livestock and Supplying – MAPA Ministry of Finance – MF Ministry of Science and Technology – MCT Other government institutions

Initiation of the Project

Two meetings organised with ministries involved in the planning process of PAS and Sustainable BR163 Plan – design of the project and preparation of the MoU

One meeting with the direct assistance from DTI/UNEP, June 2004 – focus on project’s scope

Background document prepared for the 1st National Workshop 1st National Workshop - October 2004 – launching the project

and discussing key issues Steering Committee – relevant stakeholder representatives and

development agencies participating in the workshop. Coordinating Group – led by the Ministry of the Environment –

Ministry of National Integration, UNEP-Brazil, CDS

Stakeholder Involvement

Relevant Stakeholders – Environmental and social movements, including relevant

NGOs– Private sector (agribusiness and transport)– Federal government– State government

– Development agencies Methods of Consultation

– workshops and meetings

Rationale of the Planning Process

Planning process initiated by the creation of an Inter-ministerial Working Group led by the Civil House of the Presidency with the purpose of offer a set of measures leading to the mitigation of impacts resulted from the investment in transport infra-structure – BR163, and the sustainable development of its influence area

Rationale of the Planning Process

Gaps and weaknesses of the contents of the plan (yet a preliminary analysis)

– Unclear and disputed understanding of the

linkages and causalities of the economic, social

and environmental issues

– Insufficiency of conceptual debate on sustainable

development, dividing stakeholders – causing

weak political support

Rationale of the Planning Process

Gaps and weaknesses of the process

– Loose articulation with state governments and

social movements

– Fragile people’s participation in the public

hearings

– No clear method of conciliation between different

government (federal, state) interests.

Tools and methods to be used to overcome the weaknesses

1 – Regional studies (starting)– Identification of key issues and formulation of

hypotheses of linkages and causalities – Selection of economic, social and environmental

indicators for the assessment– Field study using participatory appraisal method

in three priority areas, with different social, environmental and economic processes

– Simulation of scenarios– Regional workshops

Tools and methods to be used to overcome the weaknesses

2 – National studies (to be started, involving other institutions and projects)

– Compilation of existing studies, information,

documents

– Specific study on relevant stakeholders

participation in actual decision making

– Cataloguing of projects implemented or planned

for the influence area of BR 163 road.

– 2nd National Workshop

Key Geo-Economic Issues

– Land tenure, land market (access cost)

– Competitiveness of the agribusiness sector

– Economic alternatives – diversification

Key Environmental Issues

– High deforestation rate – Preservation of the protected areas– Loss of environmental services and connectivity

Soil erosion and connectivity;

Genetic erosion

Water contamination

Pesticides contamination

Degradation of urban environment

Figura 3: Áreas Protegidas na área de abrangência da BR 163

PLANO DE DESENVOLVIMENTO REGIONAL SUSTENTÁVEL DA ÁREA DE INFLUÊNCIA DA RODOVIA BR-163

Key Social Issues

– Land concentration and regularisation – Migration and frontier mechanisms (land

grabbing, violence, unemployment, swelling of slums in small towns, etc)

– Malfunction of official land settlements– Disarticulated government actions – Modest involvement of social actors, especially

affected family operators and traditional populations,

Preliminary Results of using tools and methods

Insufficient studies

Inventory of key issues

Mobilization of stakeholders

Challenges

– Improve institutional mechanisms for the

implementation of the field study and integration of the

project team with the GTI planners;

– Find efficient method to assess stakeholder

participation in planning process

– Get more involvement of development agencies

– Integrate actions of governmental agencies concerned

Opportunities

Increasing interest raised from the success and quality of the participation in the national workshop – potentials to design a new project – replication of the method, use as a less costly or an alternative method for strategic assessment of large investments or other regional development programmes (e.g. ecotourism poles).

Planned Activities and Next Steps

Organise and implement the participatory field study and the national study.