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There is a growing literature on meat consumption and reduced meat diets, given the negative impacts of meat on the environment. However, much of the literature has focussed on global North countries, limiting cross-cultural generalisability and overlooking the role of cultural differences in motivating food choices. The present paper provides a cross-cultural comparison of the motivations for meat consumption and vegetarianism in Brazil and the United Kingdom. This was done by conducting a total of 63 semi-structured interviews with meat-eaters, vegetarians, and vegans in Brazil (n = 41) and the UK (n = 22). The data was analysed thematically and the findings were compared across the participant samples. The findings showed that meat consumption was similarly motivated and justified in each country through the 4 N’s of justification for meat consumption. However, participants’ experiences of reducing meat consumption varied between the two countries, influenced by distinct motivations, aversions, and constraints. In the UK, price served as a motivation for choosing meatless meals, whereas in Brazil it acted as a constraint to reducing meat consumption. Additionally, in the UK, disgust was identified as a significant aversion particularly towards eating parts of meat that visibly resembled the animal of origin — a sentiment not observed in the Brazilian sample. Lastly, while environmental concerns were not a primary reason for adopting a plant-based diet in either country, they often became a significant motivator for maintaining it after dietary change.

This paper presents a guide for identifying the environmental impacts of hydroelectric enterprises. The qualitative research used the following methods: case studies, systematic literature review (SLR), content analysis, and consultation with expe ts. Four sources of information were used, including Environmental Impact Statements (EISs), scientific articles, best practice guides, and expert consultation. All EISs of hydroelectric plants submitted to the Brazilian federal Environmental Licensing between 2010 and 2020 (8 EISs) were analysed. RSL identified 68 scientific papers eligible for analysis and collection of impacts. The results were compared with Canadian practice and discussed in a virtual workshop of 15 expe ts. The guide has 90 impacts and can be used by environmental consulting firms and environmental agencies in the preliminary identification of environmental impacts of hydroelectric dams, contributing to the improvement of planning carried out in the EIA scoping stage of future environmental studies of this type.

In spite of the efforts of the footwear and textile industries to understand their greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and develop reduction strategies, knowledge on the subject is still incipient. Given this scenario, this paper aims to identify, quantify, and present the main sources of GHG in this economic sector, followed by proposing solutions aimed at more efficient management. A qualitative and quantitative study was conducted with four companies in southern Brazil to achieve this purpose. Among the main sources of emissions are fuel and energy consumption. The main reduction alternatives include searching for alternative fuels and considering energy generation through clean sources. It is clear that implementing initiatives aimed at reducing emissions is not a simple task. However, the research highlighted the technical feasibility of new forms of production with a reduced environmental impact.

This study proposes a framework to facilitate the Circular Economy (CE) implementation cases analysis from the Institutional Theory (IT) perspective. The development of this theoretical framework was based on the levels of operationalisation of the Circular Economy and the types of isomorphic changes. To demonstrate the framework's applicability, we present a matrix classifying 59 case studies into nine quadrants (3 x 3). Subsequently, the papers' contents were discussed, revealing strategies and practices for institutional behavioural change that drive CE implementation at the micro, meso, and macro levels. Therefore, the results of this work contribute not only to academia by introducing a new way of analysing CE case studies but also to managers by discussing implemented or ongoing implementation cases.

In Brazil, more than 55% of the energy comes from hydroelectricity, making the system highly vulnerable in the context of global climate change, with precipitation and temperature shifts over the years. Characterised by its multiple opportunities in sources and conversion technologies for energy, biomass has a high potential to become responsible for a relevant share of the renewable energy supply. Previous studies on biomass energy production in Brazil confirm promising results. This paper highlights possibilities for biomass power generation in Minas Gerais State. To estimate energy productivity, a Sustainable Technical Coefficient was adopted: a conservative index that considers the portion of residues that could be used to maintain the integrity of the soil. This index was applied with the data on silviculture and selected crop yields. The local energy demand was also calculated and compared to the potential energy production. Results show that 78% of the municipalities could have their basic energy needs and 18% of the demand for productive uses met by crop residues and silviculture production. For the state of Minas Gerais, with its tradition of agriculture, biomass residual energy is viable and should be considered by policymakers.

How people move around in large Brazilian cities reflects a process of production and appropriation of urban space. The transport system is characterised by the increasing rate of individual motorisation and the precariousness of public transport services. The general objective of this paper is to evaluate the level of road cycling in the city of Belo Horizonte/Minas Gerais/Brazil, based on the proposition and analysis of indicators to assess the degree of adequacy of urban roads for bicycle use as a transport mode. The results indicate that many of the roads in Belo Horizonte have good cycling levels. Given its topography and climate, these findings go against commonly held views that consider the municipality inappropriate for cycling as a mode of transport. In reality, Belo Horizonte has a very underused high cycling potential, especially if there were investments to expand the exclusive/preferred road infrastructure.

The paper aims to analyse the street-level bureaucrats’ (SLBs) perception of President Bolsonaro’s administration’s effects on Brazilian environmental policy, emphasising deforestation prevention and control in the Legal Amazon1. Besides the policy dismantling concepts, a theoretical model integrating three complementary analytical dimensions of SLBs’ action – institutional, individual, and relational – was employed in a case-oriented investigation of environmental bureaucrats – Ibama Inspectors and ICMBio Agents. The inquiry used Systematic Content Analysis on interviews with these agents involved in deforestation inspection and control activities. The empirical results confirm the hypotheses that an active dismantling process has been ongoing since the beginning of Bolsonaro’s administration; however, the perceptions of Ibama inspectors seem more intense, especially regarding the institutional dimension. The research illustrates the adverse effects of this process on the agencies and bureaucratic capacities, generating paralysis and setbacks in deforestation inspection and control policies and posing serious risks to the environmental protection in the country. This article contributes to the advancement of knowledge about the strategies that a far-right populist government deliberately adopted to reduce the role of the State, weaken professional bureaucracy, dismantle policies and favour particular interests of groups.

This paper examines the climate change vulnerability of the Northern Coast of the State of São Paulo (Litoral Norte Paulista), Brazil. Based on a literature review and a case-study encompassing the analysis of policy documents, secondary data and semi-structured interviews with policymakers and civil society representatives, it aims to provide a useful way to examine the multiple and overlapping processes of environmental, social-economic and climatic change in this region. By analyzing its vulnerability, the paper argues that the degree to which these cities are vulnerable to climate change is largely determined by the broader historic and socio-economic contextual factors. The finding indicates that the social, economic and cultural changes brought by the last four decades of intense process of urbanization, tourism exploitation and increasingly economic activities have deepened social and environmental problems, increasing the vulnerability of particular groups and the region as a whole to climate variability and change. The cross-scale nature of the problems and the cross-level interactions of these processes pose significant challenges for the governance structures and institutions on the region that fail to address the root causes of vulnerability, highlighting the municipalities’ insufficiency to address the consequences of a changing environment and climate.

In more recent years climate change impacts have been obvious around the globe. This non-contentious reality has resulted in various global initiatives to reduce climate change impacts. However, differences exist in opportunities and capacity to adaptation. This paper, descriptive in nature, draws heavily from literature and also uses 2002 Tanzanian population and housing census to identify and discuss major challenges and opportunities to climate change adaptation and sustainable development in rural areas of Tanzania. Two groups are of focus; pastoralist herders and smallholder farmers. Analysis indicates that opportunities to climate change adaptation among rural community include their knowledge and experience. Challenges are centered on the pervasive poverty, rapid population increase and high illiteracy rates. Forces beyond their control including funds and governance also present definite limits to climate change adaptation. The paper suggests among others, the effective implementation of two top policies: education and social security funding.

China’s farmland tenure, characterised by a household responsibility system (HRS) and collective landownership, has contributed to the continuation of poverty and natural resource deterioration in semiarid regions. Incongruent with local ecological, social and political conditions, the HRS has been linked to rising social and political tensions. Drawing on ethnographic research in Guyuan County, North China, this paper provides peasants’ experiences of and views on the land issue and examines the linkages between land tenure, poverty and the governance of natural resources—grassland, forest land, farmland and water. It shows that an appropriate land tenure system can only be achieved if the fragmentation and individualization of the HRS are reformed through an innovative institutional design. The paper also contributes to a critical understanding of China’s agrarian reform by articulating the need for land tenure diversity serving the overall goal of sustainable land use and management and shaping sound statepeasant relations.

China’s farmland tenure, characterised by a household responsibility system (HRS) and collective landownership, has contributed to the continuation of poverty and natural resource deterioration in semiarid regions. Incongruent with local ecological, social and political conditions, the HRS has been linked to rising social and political tensions. Drawing on ethnographic research in Guyuan County, North China, this paper provides peasants’ experiences of and views on the land issue and examines the linkages between land tenure, poverty and the governance of natural resources—grassland, forest land, farmland and water. It shows that an appropriate land tenure system can only be achieved if the fragmentation and individualization of the HRS are reformed through an innovative institutional design. The paper also contributes to a critical understanding of China’s agrarian reform by articulating the need for land tenure diversity serving the overall goal of sustainable land use and management and shaping sound statepeasant relations.China’s farmland tenure, characterised by a household responsibility system (HRS) and collective landownership, has contributed to the continuation of poverty and natural resource deterioration in semiarid regions. Incongruent with local ecological, social and political conditions, the HRS has been linked to rising social and political tensions. Drawing on ethnographic research in Guyuan County, North China, this paper provides peasants’ experiences of and views on the land issue and examines the linkages between land tenure, poverty and the governance of natural resources—grassland, forest land, farmland and water. It shows that an appropriate land tenure system can only be achieved if the fragmentation and individualization of the HRS are reformed through an innovative institutional design. The paper also contributes to a critical understanding of China’s agrarian reform by articulating the need for land tenure diversity serving the overall goal of sustainable land use and management and shaping sound statepeasant relations.

In more recent years climate change impacts have been obvious around the globe. This non-contentious reality has resulted in various global initiatives to reduce climate change impacts. However, differences exist in opportunities and capacity to adaptation. This paper, descriptive in nature, draws heavily from literature and also uses 2002 Tanzanian population and housing census to identify and discuss major challenges and opportunities to climate change adaptation and sustainable development in rural areas of Tanzania. Two groups are of focus; pastoralist herders and smallholder farmers. Analysis indicates that opportunities to climate change adaptation among rural community include their knowledge and experience. Challenges are centered on the pervasive poverty, rapid population increase and high illiteracy rates. Forces beyond their control including funds and governance also present definite limits to climate change adaptation. The paper suggests among others, the effective implementation of two top policies: education and social security funding.In more recent years climate change impacts have been obvious around the globe. This non-contentious reality has resulted in various global initiatives to reduce climate change impacts. However, differences exist in opportunities and capacity to adaptation. This paper, descriptive in nature, draws heavily from literature and also uses 2002 Tanzanian population and housing census to identify and discuss major challenges and opportunities to climate change adaptation and sustainable development in rural areas of Tanzania. Two groups are of focus; pastoralist herders and smallholder farmers. Analysis indicates that opportunities to climate change adaptation among rural community include their knowledge and experience. Challenges are centered on the pervasive poverty, rapid population increase and high illiteracy rates. Forces beyond their control including funds and governance also present definite limits to climate change adaptation. The paper suggests among others, the effective implementation of two top policies: education and social security funding.

China’s farmland tenure, characterised by a household responsibility system (HRS) and collective landownership, has contributed to the continuation of poverty and natural resource deterioration in semiarid regions. Incongruent with local ecological, social and political conditions, the HRS has been linked to rising social and political tensions. Drawing on ethnographic research in Guyuan County, North China, this paper provides peasants’ experiences of and views on the land issue and examines the linkages between land tenure, poverty and the governance of natural resources””grassland, forest land, farmland and water. It shows that an appropriate land tenure system can only be achieved if the fragmentation and individualization of the HRS are reformed through an innovative institutional design. The paper also contributes to a critical understanding of China’s agrarian reform by articulating the need for land tenure diversity serving the overall goal of sustainable land use and management and shaping sound statepeasant relations.

In more recent years climate change impacts have been obvious around the globe. This non-contentious reality has resulted in various global initiatives to reduce climate change impacts. However, differences exist in opportunities and capacity to adaptation. This paper, descriptive in nature, draws heavily from literature and also uses 2002 Tanzanian population and housing census to identify and discuss major challenges and opportunities to climate change adaptation and sustainable development in rural areas of Tanzania. Two groups are of focus; pastoralist herders and smallholder farmers. Analysis indicates that opportunities to climate change adaptation among rural community include their knowledge and experience. Challenges are centered on the pervasive poverty, rapid population increase and high illiteracy rates. Forces beyond their control including funds and governance also present definite limits to climate change adaptation. The paper suggests among others, the effective implementation of two top policies: education and social security funding.

The American stingless bees species have been used in management and breeding practices by local civilizations since the pre-Columbian era. Currently, many of these species are managed commercially and maintained in meliponaries. However, divergences exist among authors about the ecological utility of these practices. Some argue that meliponaries could serve to maintain local biodiversity while others argue that they have the opposite effect. Due to pressure from beekeepers and environmentalists there are efforts to draft specific rules that legislate production and market focusing on conservating native bees. In recent years, these norms have become more specific due to the use of empirical data from the scientific community and demands from social groups and producers. This paper presents a revision on Brazilian legislation as well its applicabilities and proposes alterations in the Environmental Crimes Law.

The practice of Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) has been expanding worldwide, aiming to include environmental issues within strategic planning. However, there is no precise regulation of SEA application in Brazil, and this practice is not systematic. In this context, this paper aimed to evaluate proposals for regulating SEA in Brazil regarding the elements of a SEA system. Documented proposals were identified through literature reviews, and the identified 14 documents’ content was analysed according to best practice criteria. Gaps were identified in all proposals, and none of the proposals met all the criteria applied in this research. The definition of objectives and SEA field of application was the criteria best reached (present in more than 70% of the documents). However, most of the proposals were limited only to these points, missing other essential elements of a SEA system. These results indicate a low institutional maturity concerning SEA in Brazil.

In the context of Environmental Licensing (EL), project screening is an essential process that establishes whether Environmental Impact Assessment is needed or not. This paper analyzes the EL screening of a type of Small Hydroelectric Power Plants (less than 3 MW) in Espírito Santo state and compares it with other states in Brazil. The methodological process involved document analysis, good practices criteria application, and comparative analyses of the case study. The document analysis allowed us to understand how EL procedures in Espírito Santo have changed over time. The good practices criteria application allowed us to discuss how well processes aligned with outlined objectives. Finally, the comparative analysis between Espírito Santo and other Brazilian states allowed us to identify possible improvements for Espírito Santo's EL system. For example, screening could be improved by considering environmental sensitivity metrics for project classification and establishing guidelines for case-by-case analyses.

The constitutional role and authority of the Public Prosecutor’s Office (MP) as an enforcer of law warranted the MP protagonism in the enforcement of environmental legislation and accountability of environmental agencies in Brazil. The MP instituted regional offices to tackle the environmental issue and established a team of experts to provide technical support. This research analyzes the participation of the São Paulo State Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPSP) and the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) experts in the environmental licensing of the Mexilhão Project. The project was located in the coastal region of the state of São Paulo and initially aimed to reduce by half the volume of natural gas imported by the country. Based on the analysis of documents and interviews, this paper shows that there were different interpretations and framings among the MP experts concerning environmental impacts and risks of the project. This study also discusses MP's influence on the decisions of the federal environmental agency about the Mexilhão Project.

The objective of this paper was to evaluate the degree of anthropic transformation of a river basin in the Amazon region. We used the digital data of the TerraClass Project to calculate the Anthropic Transformation Index - ATI. In order to verify spatial and temporal changes along a decade in the Gurupi river basin, we used the database of the years 2004 and 2014. The results showed an increase of anthropic changes in the basin over a decade, as a result of forest cover conversion into agricultural and pastures areas. Although the Gurupi river basin remains at a regular level of degradation after a decade, the intensification of land use and land cover change is a threat to the few rainforest remnants of the river basin, which can lead the region to the next level of degradation, if effective forest protection, conservation and restoration actions are not implemented in the region.

The increase of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere raises the average temperature of the planet, triggering problems that threaten the survival of humans. Protecting the global climate from the effects of climate change is an essential condition for sustaining life. For this reason, governments, scientists, and society are joining forces to propose better solutions that could well-rounded environmentally, social and economic development relationships. International climate change negotiations involve many countries in establishing strategies to mitigate the problem. Therefore, understanding international negotiation processes and how ratified agreements impact a country is of fundamental importance. The purpose of this paper is to systematize information about how climate negotiations have progressed, detailing key moments and results, analyzing the role that Brazil played in the course of these negotiations and the country’s future perspectives.

In Brazil, the process of localizing the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) using public databases faces technical, institutional and political challenges. There are essentially no comprehensive current studies regarding the downscaling of the SDG indicators at the smallest territorial levels (e.g., the municipal level). In the context of unprecedented health emergencies, such as the SARS-CoV-2 pandemic, this paper discusses the capacity of the Brazilian public information system to support the localization of SDG 3 (good health and well-being) indicators at the municipal level. This study evaluates the proposed indicators for SDG 3 and databases that underpin these indicators. The results and discussion cover central data and process deficiencies in the public health information systems that hinder SDG 3 localization efforts, the 2030 Agenda and its goal of universality.

The objective of this paper is to verify the land use and land cover change and to relate them with the potential driving forces that have been acting in the state of Santa Catarina, Brazil, during the period from 2000 to 2010. The methodology consists in identifying trends in the land use and land cover change; indicating possible explanatory factors based in factorial analysis for main components and elaborating a final typology, based on cluster analysis. Results include a strong expansion and growing strength of agricultural activity as well as forestry throughout the state and the loss of native vegetation, which points to the need to develop protective actions and occupation and land use regulations, in particular, in the environmental area, encompassing the development of an intensive and mechanized agricultural activity. Â

This paper aims to present the methodology developed within the Impacts, Vulnerability and Adaptation (IVA) to climate change component of the Fourth National Communication (4CN) of Brazil. The methodological choice of this 4CN involves the application of the nexus+ integrated approach, based on studies of impacts and vulnerabilities for water, energy, food and socio-environmental securities, in the different in the territories of Brazilian biomes, coastal areas and cities. For each of these securities it were identified the observed impacts; analysis of risk conditions; definition and assessments of integrated analysis of key impacts at territorial level; inventory, selection and analysis of adaption options in the context of Nexus+, identifying synergies and trade-offs. This process made possible an integrated assessment among the conditioning risk factors, impacts and interactions among proposed adaptation options.

The urbanization process in Latin America has reached unprecedented levels. The need to mitigate its effects and improve cities sustainability has become a pressing challenge. In this context, the assessment of sustainability acquires an increased recognition as a diagnosis tool to advance towards the ecological, social, economic and political objectives of sustainable development. On the basis of previous studies, this paper is intended to comparatively evaluate the urban and environmental sustainability of Mar del Plata city (Argentina) and its peri-urban area. A Sustainability Index (SI) was built. The most favourable SI values were generally found in the urban area, while the most critical ones were identified in the peri-urban area. The incidence of the topics in the SI, reveals differences between the urban and peri-urban areas. The outcome is expected to strengthen policy integration for present and future generations leading to the Sustainable Development Goals at a local scale.

This paper presents the results of the project "We are the others: Identity and Territory Rikbaktsa”, developed under the Lato Sensu Specialization Course "Collaborative Management of Complex Social-ecological Systems in the Brazilian Amazon. The objective of the project conducted by the group of participants who focused on indigenous issues was to assess the social-ecological resilience of the Rikbaktsa indigenous people within the Escondido Indigenous Land (Cotriguaçu, Mato Grosso). The methodology was adapted from a tool developed by the group "Resilience Alliance", which enabled exploratory research focusing on the subjects: territorial reconfiguration from the 1950s; forms of use and occupation of the Escondido indigenous land; as well as challenges and lessons learned for the development of collaborative research methodologies with indigenous populations. Important attributes were identified for the resilience of the "Rikbaktsa System", in addition to factors of risk that threaten the territorial processes and resistance in which the Rikbaktsa are currently engaged. We also present reflections and recommendations for the application of concepts and methods of the complex social-ecological systems approach and principles of collaborative management with Amazonian indigenous peoples.

The Brazilian Amazon is a complex social-ecological system, the management of which includes diverse groups of social actors whose values and interests influence decision making and outcomes. Such management requires leaders who appreciate the multiple knowledge systems and historical land occupation trajectories that have shaped this region. Twenty-three emerging leaders from universities, government agencies, the private sector, and social movement organizations participated in a two-year Specialization Course in the state of Mato Grosso, Brazil. Course participants applied the Resilience Assessment (RA) Workbook for Practitioners to analyze three livelihood sub-systems within the municipality of Cotriguaçu. This paper offers reflections on the utility of the RA workbook as a tool for bridging multiple stakeholders’ knowledge, identities, power and interests in collaborative social-ecological management. Our experience points to the risks of conducting expert-led RAs in regions dominated by historical legacies of oppression, weak institutions, and limited governance.

This paper presents an interdisciplinary study of processes of adaptation and cultural resilience in situations of displacement and forced relocation of social groups for hydroelectric dams in the Amazon. We present results of participatory research carried out among the Nova Mutum Paraná community in Rondônia, after forced displacement and resettlement due to the construction of the Jirau hydroelectric plant. The theoretical approach integrates concepts from theories of complex social-ecological systems with approaches from anthropology of development. Methods included participant observation, participatory workshops and focus groups, conducted for nearly three years immediately after community relocation. We analyzed social re-organization and strategies of negotiation between the community and the construction company, related to access to two spaces of cultural importance for leisure: natural bathing area and soccer field. Results suggest that the social capital existing in the community in the early stages of planning and decision making for the construction of hydroelectric projects is a critical factor for negotiating mitigation actions. The involvement and support of municipal representatives was also an important element for strengthening community social organization. Despite the obstacles and difficulties, the community persists in reconstructing their social and common living spaces, seeking to maintain their historical roots through the habits and customs practiced in the pre-displacement riverine site.

“O sucesso na publicação de papers é o principal indicador de desempenho científico. No entanto, os estudantes raramente recebem qualquer formação em escrita científica. A única maneira que eles têm de aprender sobre os principais componentes de um artigo e como os trabalhos científicos estão organizados é por intuição, opção que pode ser ineficaz e/ou ineficiente; ou por tentativa e erro, estratégia que pode desperdiçar muito tempo e ferir sua confiança [...] O desafio de produzir artigos bem escritos é especialmente difícil para os falantes não-nativos de inglês, que representam a maioria dos cientistas de todo o mundo.”

In Brazil, the development inter-municipal consortia were created to finance social infrastructure sector (health, sanitation, education) before being recognized through a constitutional amendment in 1998 and regulated by specific laws in 2005 and 2007. The territorial development policies are more recent; they began to be discussed in the late 1990s and implemented in the 2000s. This paper is structured based on two case studies and examines the origin of these policy tools, their complementarities and tensions, as well as the practices and strategies of the actors in the process implementation combined or parallel these two policies that mobilize similar references, but in different times.

The environmental issue has become the object of wide discussion in recent decades, delimiting and building a solid presence, especially in the academic field. This issue has emerged during the 1960s, within a very specific historical context – counterculture and criticisms of the current The environmental issue has become the object of wide discussion in recent decades, delimiting and building a solid presence, especially in the academic field. This issue has emerged during the 1960s, within a very specific historical context – counterculture and criticisms of the current predatory model of development. It has arrived in Brazil in the 1970s, assuming a singular face. Nowadays, it expresses the criticism of the end of the “Economic Miracle” and the environmental impacts resulting from this development option. Knowing the process of institutionalization is important to understand how Environmental Sociology leaves the status of subfield areas of Sociology, such as Rural Sociology, and achieves a specific field. In this paper, we present a discussion about the “making” of the Brazilian Environmental Sociology, arguing it as an established field of study and it needs to reflect about its theoretical construction. Therefore, we aim to analyze the articles on the theme “Environment and Society” published in major journals related to the Humanities area of Brazil, 1980 to 2007, from the method “Content Analysis”, and thus contribute to the understanding of Environmental Sociology process of (re)making as a specific area of sociological thought.

The sustainable development must be seen from the understanding of the multiple relation that occurs between the natural environment and the other actors of the system. In agroindustrial systems, this is a serious issue because of the close dependence between production processes and natural elements. The objective of this paper is to organize, from other published studies, the main energy and material flows already identified within the sugarcane sector. Then, it present an overview of the degree of closing cycle regarding that sector. This work is an descriptive research that uses secondary data and the results demonstrates: i) the high rates of reutilization of bagasse of sugar cane and water allows the cogeneration of energy and the low capitation of water from natural resources; ii) the possibility of treatment for by-products allows the reutilization in other processes, as biodigestion and fertigation.

The relationship between the use of genetic resources, social justice and biodiversity conservation has proved to be one of the main matters in current environmental issues. Brazil exercises a leadership role in international debates about genetic resources and is a pioneer in the creation of a specific internal regulation. This, however, has been strongly criticized by the stakeholders, as well as the lack of incentive for biodiversity research in this country. This paper discusses some of the main conflicting points and how a new scenario of control and promotion can overcome them, based on the regulatory experience since the creation of the current regulatory framework and national indicators available in research with Brazilian species. The suggestions are based on three pillars: a new relationship between government and bioprospectors, guided by encouraging legal activities; a diffuse distribution of benefits, with simple rules, being able to capture some profit from bioprospecting; and a synergy between the existence of traditional/indigenous communities and biodiversity maintenance.

In the scope of social science, studies dealing with environmental issues have gained prominence in recent years. Given the intense and profound changes the capitalist system has brought to society, culmina ng in the current environmental crisis, science and philosophy have sought ways to overcome the contradic s found in our current ethical model. In this sense, the objetive of this paper is, from a review of the related literature, to present ecological ethics as an alternative that points the way to the formula of strategies aimed at sustainability, since this ethical discourse, broaching issues such as anthropocentrism and moral competence, leads to a redefinition of the relationship between humans and their environment

The Territories of Citizenship Program aims to strengthen small-scale farmers in Brazil by financing productive projects and infrastructures defined within deliberative institutional arrangements which is implementing the so-called “cycle of social management”. It presupposes dialectic active and progressive between the social capital of the territory, collective participation and project implementation, resulting in a virtuous process and sustainable rural development. The Territory of Borborema, in the state of Paraiba, was created in 2003 with a high level of social capital and one process of consolidation ofpeasant social movements and agroecological transition. However it does not show a good performance in terms of implementation of investment projects. This paper analyse this apparent paradox making relationship between the ideology of the government and the practice of social actors within the territorial device.

This article analyzes the development model of the Atlantic coast of Uruguay and its capacity to preserve relevant ecosystem services. The chosen study area was Playa Solari – Barra, one of the most important touristic spots of Uruguay (located in Laguna de Rocha, Rocha, Uruguay). This coastal zone has experienced important territorial changes during the last decades, with conflicts arising among traditional urban development for beaches, the recent strategies of rural-coastal tourism and natural and cultural heritage conservation strategies. The results show that the strong process of urban consolidation is negatively affecting the most important economic resources and ecosystem services in the study area, particularly those that directly promote touristic activities. For the last five years, the trend of urban development seems to point out towards an increase of the observed negative effects. Based on that evidence, this paper proposes specific strategies, particularly a new land use model, to revert negative impacts.

In contemporary societies, new configurations of the countryside have resulted into a so-called new rurality. In this scenario, and differently from what happened in the past, the rural dimension exceeds the farm sphere, now playing multiple functions such as tourism. In this paper, we present some initial remarks, based on our experience in the Nova Pontal settlement, municipality of Rosana, São Paulo State. More specifically, we are interested in Brazilian rural settlements and in gender-based labor divisions, social organization and environmental issues related to tourism. For this purpose, we have adopted a participatory methodology and techniques, such as participant observation and the collection of recorded statements. From a sociological point of view, we perceive that an opening of rural settlements to tourists plays, on the one hand, a symbolic function relevant to peasants and townspeople, and, on the other, it could be a driving force for the recovery and/or the conservation of the environment.

The objective of this paper is to discuss the dialogical relationship between historical research and community-based tourism (TBC). This is done through the analysis of the sustainability aspects of the social, cultural, and historical memory in contexts which reveal dialectical processes of knowledge construction. In this regard, it is noteworthy that studies on historical research focused on the implementation of community-based tourism are innovative, interdisciplinary and therefore incipient. As such, they reveal elements that represent a theoretical-methodological basis for the used referencials, including a contextualized analysis of an outreach project of the University of Bahia (UNEB) on community-based tourism, developed at the city of Cabula and its surroundings in Salvador, Bahia state. Conclusions reveal potentialities in historical research, as evidenced by the close association of the studied actors, practices and topics.

To contribute to the debate around the role of the programs of Payment for Environmental Services (PES) for sustainable development, this work has as main objective to identify the potential of PES as an instrument of public policy for sustainable development of rural territories. The paper presents a brief theoretical review of PES, the main features of some programs Brazilian PES and presentation and prospects of the project “Protetor das Águas”, which has been running in the city of Vera Cruz-RS, with the aim of contributing to the protection of sources of sub-basin of the Arroio Andreas, rewarding family farmers. Despite the very early stage, the expectations of the project are very optimistic, because most of the family owners of the sub-basin have shown interest in participating in the project. The PES programs contribute to the sustainable development of rural territories because they open space for the formation and expansion of productive systems agroecological and tourism, generating income and employment opportunities in these territories.Visando contribuir para o debate em torno do papel dos programas de Pagamento por Serviços Ambientais (PSA) para o desenvolvimento sustentável, este trabalho tem como objetivo principal identificar o potencial do PSA como instrumento de políticas públicas para o desenvolvimento sustentável dos territórios rurais. O texto apresenta uma breve revisão teórica sobre PSA, as principais características de alguns programas brasileiros de PSA e a apresentação e perspectivas do projeto Protetor das Águas, que vem sendo executado no município de Vera Cruz-RS, com o objetivo de contribuir para a proteção das nascentes da sub-bacia do Arroio Andreas, remunerando os agricultores familiares. Apesar do estágio ainda inicial, as expectativas em relação ao projeto são muito otimistas, pois a maioria dos proprietários familiares da sub-bacia tem demonstrado interesse em participar do projeto. Os programas de PSAs contribuem para o desenvolvimento sustentável dos territórios rurais porque abrem espaços para a formação e expansão de sistemas produtivos agroecológicos e turísticos, podendo gerar renda e oportunidades de trabalho nesses territórios.

To contribute to the debate around the role of the programs of Payment for Environmental Services (PES) for sustainable development, this work has as main objective to identify the potential of PES as an instrument of public policy for sustainable development of rural territories. The paper presents a brief theoretical review of PES, the main features of some programs Brazilian PES and presentation and prospects of the project “Protetor das Águas”, which has been running in the city of Vera Cruz-RS, with the aim of contributing to the protection of sources of sub-basin of the Arroio Andreas, rewarding family farmers. Despite the very early stage, the expectations of the project are very optimistic, because most of the family owners of the sub-basin have shown interest in participating in the project. The PES programs contribute to the sustainable development of rural territories because they open space for the formation and expansion of productive systems agroecological and tourism, generating income and employment opportunities in these territories.

To contribute to the debate around the role of the programs of Payment for Environmental Services (PES) for sustainable development, this work has as main objective to identify the potential of PES as an instrument of public policy for sustainable development of rural territories. The paper presents a brief theoretical review of PES, the main features of some programs Brazilian PES and presentation and prospects of the project “Protetor das Águas”, which has beenrunning in the city of Vera Cruz-RS, with the aim of contributing to the protection of sources of sub-basin of the Arroio Andreas, rewarding family farmers. Despite the very early stage, the expectations of the project are very optimistic, because most of the family owners of the sub-basin have shown interest in participating in the project. The PES programs contribute to the sustainable development of rural territories because they open space for the formation and expansion of productive systems agroecological and tourism, generating income and employment opportunities in these territories.

YOUNG, Oran R. Institutional Dynamics: Emergent Patterns in International Environmental Governance. Cambridge (Massachusets, USA): The MIT Press, 2010. Earth System Governance Series. 225p. (Paperback; alkaline paper). ISBN 978-0-262-51440-8.

YOUNG, Oran R. Institutional Dynamics: Emergent Patterns in International Environmental Governance. Cambridge (Massachusets, USA): The MIT Press, 2010. Earth System Governance Series. 225p. (Paperback; alkaline paper). ISBN 978-0-262-51440-8.

KATES, Robert W., ed. 2010. Readings in Sustainability Science and Technology. CID Working Paper No. 213. Center for International Development, Harvard University. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University, December 2010.

KATES, Robert W., ed. 2010. Readings in Sustainability Science and Technology. CID Working Paper No. 213. Center for International Development, Harvard University. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University, December 2010.

This paper analyzes the importance of reciprocity in the processes and procedures recorded in the management of common resources. It examines first the role that E. Ostrom attributes to the norm of reciprocity in her approach to common property resources. A second part interprets economic and social relations in the management of common resources as seen by economic anthropology’s theory of reciprocity. Finally, the conclusion attempts to establish a dialogue between Ostrom’s proposals and the theory of reciprocity.O artigo analisa a importância da reciprocidade nos processos e dispositivos de manejo de recursos comuns. Primeiro, examina o papel que Ostrom atribui à norma de reciprocidade na sua abordagem da gestão dos recursos em propriedade comum. Uma segunda parte apresenta a leitura das relações econômicas e sociais no manejo de recursos comuns pela ótica da teoria da reciprocidade da antropologia econômica. Finalmente, a conclusão apresenta um início de diálogo entre as propostas de Ostrom e a teoria da reciprocidade.

At the beginning of the 21st century, the shortage of water is unquestionable constituting a threat to humanity and the biosphere. This situation is experienced in arid, Semi-arid and Mediterranean regions. The management of aquatic resources and the availability of water is a complex issue and of a huge strategic importance for sustainable development. The main objective of this paper is to present and discuss strategies for water management in the Mediterranean and Semi-arid regions through a literature review. As a conclusion, the semi-arid regions, due to its specific characteristics, will suffer more with water scarcity. Regarding the Mediterranean, all scenarios of future developments foresee a decline in rainfall, a trend which will bring serious impacts on society and environment. Hence, Mediterranean regions should focus in implementing simple techniques and lowcost used in semiarid regions, many of which currently abandoned but with centuries-old traditions in the history of the Mediterranean.

No início do século XXI a escassez da água é inquestionável constituindo uma ameaça para a humanidade e para a biosfera. Esta situação é sentida nas regiões Áridas, Semiáridas e Mediterrânicas. A gestão dos recursos aquáticos e da disponibilidade de água é um tema complexo e de uma enorme importância estratégica para o desenvolvimento sustentável. O principal objectivo deste trabalho é apresentar e discutir estratégias de gestão da água em regiões Semiáridas e Mediterrânicas através da revisão da literatura disponível. Conclui-se que as regiões Semiáridas, devido às suas características específicas, sofrerão mais com a escassez. Relativamente ao Mediterrâneo, todos os cenários de evolução futura prevêem uma diminuição da precipitação, tendência que trará graves impactes em termos sociais e ambientais. Interessará às regiões Mediterrânicas implementar as técnicas simples e de baixo custo utilizadas nas regiões Semiáridas, muitas das quais presentemente abandonadas mas com tradições centenárias na história do Mediterrâneo.At the beginning of the 21st century, the shortage of water is unquestionable constituting a threat to humanity and the biosphere. This situation is experienced in arid, Semi-arid and Mediterranean regions. The management of aquatic resources and the availability of water is a complex issue and of a huge strategic importance for sustainable development. The main objective of this paper is to present and discuss strategies for water management in the Mediterranean and Semi-arid regions through a literature review. As a conclusion, the semi-arid regions, due to its specific characteristics, will suffer more with water scarcity. Regarding the Mediterranean, all scenarios of future developments foresee a decline in rainfall, a trend which will bring serious impacts on society and environment. Hence, Mediterranean regions should focus in implementing simple techniques and lowcost used in semiarid regions, many of which currently abandoned but with centuries-old traditions in the history of the Mediterranean.

This paper analyzes the importance of reciprocity in the processes and procedures recorded in the management of common resources. It examines first the role that E. Ostrom attributes to the norm of reciprocity in her approach to common property resources. A second part interprets economic and social relations in the management of common resources as seen by economic anthropology’s theory of reciprocity. Finally, the conclusion attempts to establish a dialogue between Ostrom’s proposals and the theory of reciprocity.