{{menu_nowledge_desc}}.

CIFOR–ICRAF publishes over 750 publications every year on agroforestry, forests and climate change, landscape restoration, rights, forest policy and much more – in multiple languages.

CIFOR–ICRAF addresses local challenges and opportunities while providing solutions to global problems for forests, landscapes, people and the planet.

We deliver actionable evidence and solutions to transform how land is used and how food is produced: conserving and restoring ecosystems, responding to the global climate, malnutrition, biodiversity and desertification crises. In short, improving people’s lives.

Municipios e gestao florestal na Amazonia: introducao e marco teorico

Export citation

In this chapter, the authors discuss the history of decentralization in Brazil, analyze the institutional and legal characteristics of the Brazilian political system concerning decentralization and build a theoretical framework for the case studies. Brazil has experienced cycles of centralization and decentralization since its independency, in 1822. The 1988 constitution sparked a strong and sustained cycle of decentralization. The country has a strong federal system, in which municipalities get a fair share of federal taxes and already are able to control education and health policies and services. Decentralization in the forest and environment sectors still lag behind. Municipal governments do not have interest in controlling and taxing the forest sector for political reasons and due to the very nature of the fiscal federalism. Yet, in spite of the slow advances and lack of a formal decentralization program, the Brazilian Constitution and laws grant state and municipal governments enough power to take action in these sectors. Municipalities can restrict land use and create protected areas in their territories. However, local governments in Amazonia do not frequently use this and other prerogatives.
    Publication year

    2003

    Authors

    Toni, F.; Kaimowitz, D.

    Language

    Portuguese

    Keywords

    decentralization, history, institutions, law, forest policy, land use, local government

    Geographic

    Brazil

Related publications