CONTEXTUALIZATION

The project supported by the Amazon Fund was named after the Green Municipalities Program (PMV), created in the state of Pará in 2011. The program was inspired by the successful experience of the municipality of Paragominas, which adopted environmental regularization procedures in response to its inclusion on the list of priority municipalities by the Ministry of Environment and Climate Change (MMA) for deforestation prevention, monitoring, and control actions. It is worth noting that the state program encompasses broader actions than those supported by the project itself.

Pará covers an area of 1,247,954 km² and has 144 municipalities. Of these, 100 were directly benefited by the project, committing to goals such as maintaining the annual deforestation rate below 40 km² and registering 80% of the municipal territory in the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR).

THE PROJECT

The project was structured around two main components: (i) consolidation of the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) in 100 municipalities; and (ii) strengthening of municipal environmental management in the state. Throughout its implementation, several restructurings were carried out, while maintaining this overall scope.

Among the actions implemented, the following stand out: mobilization and awareness-raising for CAR adherence; formalization and strengthening of local pacts to combat deforestation and promote sustainable development; execution and validation of CAR registrations; customization of the CAR system for integration/migration to the National SICAR; implementation of the computerized registration system for land regularization – SICARF; training and structuring of municipalities for environmental management, field verification of deforestation, and CAR validation; and development and deployment of an electronic system to support municipal environmental management.

INTERVENTION LOGIC

The project was part of component "Monitoring and Control" (2), of the Amazon Fund’s Logical Framework.

The direct expected outcomes of the project were: (i) Expanded access for rural producers in 100 municipalities of the state of Pará to the environmental regularization of their rural properties; and (ii) Structuring of municipal environmental institutions to enable them to carry out decentralized environmental management.

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 

A total of 668 awareness events were held, addressing themes such as deforestation-free production and environmental regularization, using accessible language through theatrical performances, documentaries, video lessons, and music. These activities reached approximately 84,821 people across 102 municipalities.

In addition, 95 local pacts to combat deforestation were signed, involving around 2,830 individuals and institutions.

The Pará Land Institute (ITERPA) and the Pará State Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Agency (EMATER) were equipped, trained, and strengthened, which led to an increase in CAR registrations and the processing of land regularization procedures.

With support from the Amazon Fund, the number of rural properties registered in the CAR in Pará increased from approximately 123,287 to around 292,485. By the end of the project, 27,367 properties had achieved the status of “CAR analyzed with no pending issues.”

High-resolution satellite imagery was acquired, enabling more precise and faster deforestation monitoring in Pará. This resulted in more agile and comprehensive municipal bulletins for Field Deforestation Verification (VDC).

Regarding support for land regularization, over 15,000 procedures were submitted through the Land Regularization and Registration System (SICARF/PA), with approximately 2,288 already concluded and titles issued.

The project structured 100 municipalities for environmental management, 68 for environmental licensing, and 34 for field verification of deforestation and CAR validation. This was achieved through training, development of the electronic licensing system (SISLAM), and donation of equipment.

RESULT AND IMPACT INDICATORS

Direct Outcome 2.2 – Expanded access for rural producers to the environmental regularization of their properties
(Project Component 1)

Output Indicators:

• Rural properties registered in the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) – protocol (number of properties statewide)
  Target: 231,460 registrations | Achieved: 292,485 registrations

• Area of rural properties registered in CAR – protocol (hectares statewide)
  Target: 44,229,480.22 ha | Achieved: 83,143,243.64 ha

• Rural properties with CAR analyzed (number of properties analyzed using project resources)
  Target: 40,000 properties | Achieved: 39,009 properties

• Area of rural properties with CAR analyzed (hectares analyzed using project resources)
  Target: 7,643,600 ha | Achieved: 6,299,948.1 ha

Outcome Indicators:

• Properties registered in CAR with analyzed and regularized status (number of properties statewide)
  Target: 10,000 | Achieved: 27,367

• Area of properties registered in CAR with analyzed and regularized status (total hectares statewide)
  Target: 22,114,740.11 ha | Achieved: 2,294,865.69 ha

Direct Outcome 2.1 – Institutions for environmental monitoring, control, and accountability structured and modernized

Output Indicators:

• Training in environmental management or deforestation monitoring technologies – public servants (number of individuals)
  Target: 1,439 public servants | Achieved: 1,556 public servants

• Strengthened environmental agencies (number of agencies)
  Target: 100 agencies | Achieved: 131 agencies

• Electronic systems implemented, improved, and/or integrated for environmental monitoring and control (number of systems)
  Target: 2 systems | Achieved: 2 systems

• Transport equipment acquired for environmental monitoring, control, and regularization – boats / cars / trucks / motorcycles (number of units)
  Target: 128 units | Achieved: 128 units

• Integrative events for environmental monitoring, control, and regularization – seminars / workshops (number of events)
  Target: 811 events | Achieved: 823 events

• Educational publications or media produced for environmental monitoring, control, or regularization (number of publications – e.g., radio programs, YouTube videos, etc.)
  Target: 80 publications | Achieved: 68 publications

Outcome Indicators:

• Public servants trained in environmental management or deforestation monitoring technologies applying the knowledge acquired (number of individuals)
  Target: 720 public servants | Achieved: 787 public servants

• Organizations using electronic systems implemented and/or integrated for environmental monitoring and control (number of organizations)
  Target: 100 municipalities | Achieved: 62 municipalities

Institutional and administrative aspects 

• Access to rural credit is conditional upon environmental compliance, which drives the project's objectives and serves as an important tool in combating illegal deforestation;
• The project’s design is based on institutional support from the State Government through the formalization and creation of a dedicated structure for its implementation;
• Development of actions that reduce the risk of new municipalities in Pará being added to the MMA’s list of priority areas for deforestation control.

Risks and lessons learned 

• Political and administrative discontinuity in projects involving government entities can significantly compromise their execution;
• External factors may lead to price discrepancies for equipment, especially imported items, or other supply challenges, potentially impacting project deliverables.

Sustainability of results

• From a technological infrastructure perspective, due to its inherently dynamic nature, there is a constant need for investment in both equipment and systems, as well as in user training to ensure proper adaptation to evolving technologies.
• There was an expansion of the knowledge base at both municipal (beneficiary) and state levels.
• There was a deepening of integration among public agencies, institutions, and governments.