Environmental management assessment in state forest concessions in the Brazilian Amazon

Abstract

The environmental sustainability of Brazilian public forests under a concession regime has been the subject of controversy, highlighting the need for effective and continuous monitoring. This study evaluated the performance of stakeholders and efficiency of environmental monitoring of state forest concessions in the Eastern Amazon. Monitoring was evaluated based on compliance with the rules by public and private stakeholders and on their satisfaction perception. Forest monitoring efficiency and governance was analysed using international guidelines for concessions adapted to the local reality. Monitoring and forest governance were evaluated as partially satisfactory, with asymmetric performance among stakeholders. The robust legal and procedural framework in Brazil confers security to the forest concession regime. However, key elements such as field inspections, communication, transparency, and accountability need to be improved for effective environmental monitoring in state concessions. Safeguarding public forests under concessions, typically in remote areas and with weak institutions, would at least require the use of remote monitoring technologies and standardized administrative and accountability procedures.