CAR Amazon wins monitoring

Conservation International (CI Brazil) today launches Inovacar, a project created to support the states and municipalities in the implementation of the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR). Initially, the Inovacar will monitor the registration of rural properties in the nine states of the Amazon and generate data to governments, researchers and experts. The monitoring will be routine and the data will be available on the site  www.inovacar.org.br

In an interview with the Observatory of the Code, Patricia Baiao, director of Conservation International Institutional Relations (CI-Brazil), explains how it will work this new initiative will help civil society to monitor the environmental compliance process in Brazil:

Observatory. the Forest Code –  Implementation of the CAR is at a standstill. There are interests contrary to its implementation and the government can not advance what is expected in the current Forest Code. What will be the role of Inovacar in this context?

Patricia Baiao – The implementation of the Rural Environmental Registry should already be happening, because it is an important tool of the Forest Code and can help solve part of the environmental liabilities of rural properties. Standardization stalled and the government has not openly presented to society the national system for the registration, the SICAR. There are still many doubts in the air. Nevertheless, we, the civil society, we are preparing to support registration. This is where the Inovacar. The project came to help build a monitoring and learning environment on the implementation of the CAR, collecting data that will enable the monitoring of the process in the states. Our aim is to promote exchange of successful experiences in order to avoid repetition of errors and accelerate their effective implementation. 

OCF –  The Inovacar established a baseline reference for monitoring will be done from now on. What is the X-ray that can be done at this time in relation to the CAR in the Amazon?

 Patricia Baiao – The first report, which is now available on the project website was compiled from a survey conducted between November 2013 and January 2014, through semi-structured interviews, using as a parameter a number of indicators. In this research, in general, it was found that the delay in the regulation of CAR, by the federal government, generated a wait state in state agencies. Many states to set their rural Environmental Adjustment Programs (PRAs), or established tools necessary to meet the requirements of the legislation. In no state it was possible to verify the existence of a strategy, understanding the CAR as the gateway to this regulation. But at least now we know where things are standing. This makes it easy to think of actions to help in the implementation of the CAR. 

OCF –  And how the project will support the states?

Patricia Baiao –  Once the CAR is official and the government system is already operating, we’ll interview the states and so regularly accompany the progress of work. We will do routine monitoring to check where you are moving and where it is not. Thus, we can understand bottlenecks and help unblocking them. 

OCF –  Is it possible to compare one state with another, see where the shortcomings and successes, is it?

Patricia Baiao –  Exactly. We want to encourage cooperation between states and even municipalities that demonstrate creative solutions that work for the registration becomes effective as a public policy that helps, ultimately solve the environmental liabilities of rural properties. And that concerns the whole society. 

OCF –  And while the CAR does not begin to take effect, you can create critical mass to support the states and municipalities for them to benefit from each other ‘s experiences?

Patricia Baiao –  Absolutely. Are being published this week two studies by experts in the field, where we bring the CAR’s history in Brazil and the prospects of this tool for environmental policy. These studies contribute to the lifting of experience in environmental regulation ever held in the country and will serve as a basis for environmental agencies as well as universities and civil society in supporting the implementation of the CAR. Support for states will also come through workshops where the states of the Amazon region will meet to exchange experiences regarding the implementation of environmental legislation, identify bottlenecks in the process and cases of success, making more effective the implementation of environmental regulation in the state.

 OCF –  This monitoring model adopted for the Amazon can serve other regions of the country?

Patricia Baiao –  This model was first put into practice in the states of the Brazilian Amazon. Environmental compliance of processes based on the CAR were already being applied in some states, such as Mato Grosso, Pará, Rondônia, Acre and Tocantins. But it can be expanded to any other state in the country, including applying the same indicators and survey methodology used by Inovacar.

 OCF-  How should give the joint work with the states?

Patricia Baiao –  Through rapprochement with the Secretariat of Environment of the Amazonian states, the project aims to carry out periodic monitoring of the environmental regulation advances in the states. And also with conducting experience exchange workshops in order to bring states with similar realities to those who already have experience in the environmental compliance process.

Website Inovacar:  www.inovacar.org.br

Press Release Release:  http://localhost/obs/?p=1296