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The Ecological Economic Zoning (EEZ) is an environmental management tool established in the National Environmental Policy (PNMA) and present in all states of Brazil. Since the 1990s, it has been implemented in Brazil; however, the attempts at implementation and the results obtained so far do not provide evidence of its effectiveness. Thus, this article seeks to understand the implementation of EEZ in Tocantins by analyzing the perceptions of local actors through the Collective Subject Discourse (CSD) method. The conclusion is that EEZ in Tocantins has not been implemented. Among the identified causes, institutional factors such as low administrative capacity, governance, and "political will" associated with the disconfiguration of its normative character prevail. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The recent expansion of agribusiness in Tocantins state's savannah has brought several kinds of changes to this biome territory, among them environmental ones. Its consequences may affect the climate, water resources, socio-biodiversity, and people's ways of life, particularly those who live in the countryside and rely directly on nature to support themselves. Grounded on such a context, this paper offers an overview of the current scenario of municipalities in Tocantins state based on indicators concerning agriculture and cattle raising (e.g. planting/pasture areas and cattle) as well as the environment (e.g. accumulated deforestation and deficits of legal reserves and permanent protection areas). The study verified, within the limits of each municipality, the existence of traditional communities and rural settlements, groups regarded as more exposed and vulnerable to agribusiness' negative effects on the environment. This paper ultimately aims to learn more about the context surrounding this topic at state level and identify municipalities that demand priority in the production of in-depth studies and the enforcement of public policies for environmental monitoring, inspection, and conservation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]