CONTEXTUALIZATION 

The state of Mato Grosso covers an area of 903,357 km². It has 141 municipalities, of which some 86 are part of the Amazon Biome, corresponding to an area of 480,215 km² (54%). The Cerrado biome (Hinterland) covers the central portion of the state, with 354,823 km² (39%), while the smaller area is part of the Pantanal biome (Marshland), in the south of the state, with 60,885 km² (7%).in the scope of the Amazon Fund, and its objectives were to foster the environmental recovery of 1,200 hectares of degraded areas and to revitalize family farming in six municipalities in the Portal of the Amazon region.

The occupation and economic growth of the state was based on the agricultural sector, with incentives to replace the forest with a variety of crops and cattle, which caused extreme damage as a result of high deforestation rates. Despite the substantial decline in deforestation over the last few years, the state of Mato Grosso has the largest accumulated deforested area in the Legal Amazon, with a proportion of approximately 34% of the total deforested are.

THE PROJECT

The project is structured into three sections. The first is to provide support to consolidate the system of protected areas, aimed at consolidating nine (9) state-run Conservation Units (CUs) through geo-referencing, demarcation and signage of the boundaries, besides fostering management of the CUs, through training, as well as physical and operational structuring.

The second focus involves strengthening inspection and state environmental licensing. Within this context, efforts will be made to foster modernized management of state forest resources by implementing a digital environmental licensing system, as well as expanding and intensifying inspection.

The last aim focuses on further decentralization of environmental management, while seeking to structure SEMA’s regional agencies to improve regional environmental licensing and inspection. In addition, it seeks to decentralize state environmental management by institutionally strengthening 40 municipal environmental secretariats located in the Amazon Biome.

INTERVENTION LOGIC

The project is part of the Monitoring and Control (2) and Territorial Planning (3) components of the Amazon Fund’s Logical Framework. 

Click on the following image to view its objectives tree, that is, how the project's outputs and linked to the expected outcomes and impact.

ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED

In order to consolidate state protected areas through the adoption of fire-free agricultural practices, training was provided for 207 small farmers, agrarian reform settlers and members of traditional communities surrounding five protected areas. Educational campaigns were carried out to prevent the use of fire, in which 10,825 people participated in lectures, seminars and educational campaigns against illegal burning and deforestation.

A website is under construction for the promotion and sale of socio-biodiversity products produced by traditional communities and family farmers in Mato Grosso.

Personal protective equipment and tools were acquired for use in forest firefighting, and 146 volunteer brigade members were trained in the municipalities surrounding seven protected areas (PA). Information technology (IT) equipment and vehicles were also acquired to equip two advanced firefighting units for immediate service in the PAs.

The capacity of the IT infrastructure for environmental licensing has been expanded (with high performance computers for large data storage and image geoprocessing and new software to ensure database stability) to meet the increased demand of the Environmental Licensing Digital System that will be implemented, aiming to digitize 100% of the state environmental licensing processes.

IT equipment, digital cameras, mobile phones, vehicles, motorcycles, boats and other support equipment were also acquired to intensify environmental surveillance and monitoring activities conducted by the technicians of the Decentralized Directorates of the Secretariat of State for the Environment (Sema), aiming to decentralize and strengthen the environmental management in Sema’s nine Regional Units. In addition, various training courses are being provided for Sema's inspection team.

As part of the decentralization of environmental management, 39 municipalities have already been qualified to carry out environmental licensing through the publication of ordinances and the execution of the Technical Cooperation Agreement, by which they are responsible for carrying out local environmental management. Equipment and vehicles were also purchased to strengthen Municipal Environmental Departments.

A mobilizing and awareness-raising event was held focusing on the decentralization of environmental management, the “Exchange of Experiences between Municipal Managers.” Training of trainers courses within the scope of the State Environmental Education Program were attended by 366 participants.

The GPWeb project management system was implemented and 58 civil servants were trained in the use of the system for the implementation and monitoring of project subcomponents.