The experience of the municipalities of Minas Gerais State (Brazil) that implemented local environmental licensing

Authors

  • Mônica de Souza Alves Master’s degree in Environmental Science, and Socioeconomic and Environmental Sustainability, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais (UEMG), Frutal, MG, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0978-1670
  • Alexandre Túlio Amaral Nascimento PhD in Ecology, Conservation and Wildlife Management, Researcher, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais (UEMG), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais – Frutal, Departamento de Engenharia Aplicada e Tecnologias Ambientais – João Monlevade, MG, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4377-1513
  • Alberto de Freitas Castro Fonseca PhD in Sustainable Development, Researcher, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6661-5185

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18472/SustDeb.v13n1.2022.41539

Keywords:

Decentralization. Municipal Administration. Local Environmental Management. Municipal Environmental Licensing.

Abstract

The objective of this study was to explore the experience of the municipalities of the state of Minas Gerais that implemented local environmental licensing. For this purpose, representatives of the state administration were interviewed, and an electronic questionnaire was sent to analysts of 121 municipalities that took up environmental licensing, from which 39 responses were obtained. The key drivers of local environmental licensing were concerns over licensing procedural delays by the state government and the need for administrative efficiency. Knowledge of local conditions and the proximity between the local government, communities and developers were identified as facilitators of licensing. Shortage of staff, precarious hiring processes, and lack of infrastructure were identified as the main barriers to local environmental licensing. The municipalities that have implemented local environmental licensing perceive planning, administrative capacity, competent technical and legal teams, and capacity-building as essential elements of an effective local environmental licensing system. The study concludes with suggestions of future research avenues.

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Author Biographies

Mônica de Souza Alves, Master’s degree in Environmental Science, and Socioeconomic and Environmental Sustainability, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais (UEMG), Frutal, MG, Brazil

Mônica has two MSc degrees, one in Socioeconomic and Environmental Sustainability (UFOP-2017) and another in Environmental Sciences (UEMG-2021). BSc degree in social communication at University of Uberaba (UNIUBE). Specializations in Marketing Management (INPG), Public Management (UEMG), Cerrado Agroecology (UEMG), Extension and Environmental Education (UFMG). Her research interests lie in the areas of education-communication, agroecology, gender equality and environmental licensing. She has worked as a professor at the University of Uberaba and University of the State of Minas Gerais in the subjects of communication theory and semiotics. Monica was secretary of environment for Frutal (2016-2020) – the second municipality in the state of Minas Gerais to take over municipal environmental licensing. She is currently a journalist for Recicleiros, a non-governmental organization dedicated to solid waste management in Brazilian cities. 

Alexandre Túlio Amaral Nascimento, PhD in Ecology, Conservation and Wildlife Management, Researcher, Universidade do Estado de Minas Gerais (UEMG), Programa de Pós-Graduação em Ciências Ambientais – Frutal, Departamento de Engenharia Aplicada e Tecnologias Ambientais – João Monlevade, MG, Brazil

Alexandre Nascimento is an Associate Professor in the Department of Applied Engineering and Environmental Technologies at the State University of Minas Gerais (UEMG), João Monlevade, Brazil. Alexandre has a PhD in ecology, conservation and wildlife management (2014, UFMG, Brazil), a MSc degree in applied ecology (2008, USP, Brazil) and a BSc degree in biological sciences (2002, UFV, Brazil). Alexandre has also experience on non-governmental and private organizations. His research interests lie in the areas of biodiversity conservation, environmental policy analysis and Anthropocene studies. Alexandre is the author of many peer-reviewed papers and technical reports. He is member of the Brazilian Association of Ecological Science and Conservation (ABECO). Alexandre has experience in democratic councils that are representative of the civil society, as the State Council for Environmental Policies (COPAM), where he actually represents the University of the State of Minas Gerais (UEMG) at the technical camera of biodiversity and protected areas (CPB).

Alberto de Freitas Castro Fonseca, PhD in Sustainable Development, Researcher, Programa de Pós-Graduação em Engenharia Ambiental, Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto, Ouro Preto, MG, Brazil

Alberto Fonseca is an Associate Professor in the Department of Environmental Engineering at the Federal University of Ouro Preto (UFOP), Brazil. Alberto has a PhD degree in geography (2010, University of Waterloo, Canada), an MSc degree in environmental engineering (2004, UFOP, Brazil), and a BSc degree in civil and sanitation engineering (2001, UFMG, Brazil). Prior to his academic career, Alberto worked in several public and private organizations. His current research interests lie in the areas of sustainable mining, impact assessment and environmental policy analysis. He is the author of many peer-reviewed papers and technical reports. His latest co-publications are published in the journals such as Environmental Impact Assessment Review, Journal of Cleaner Production, Environmental Politics and Environmental Management (New York). Alberto has attended numerous conferences and professional events around the world. Alberto was the coordinator of the bachelor’s program in Environmental Engineering (2017-2019), and has acted as assistant vice-president for research and graduate studies (2015-2017) at UFOP. He was the President and Scientific Director of the Brazilian Association for Impact Assessment between 2014 and 2018. Alberto is an associate editor of the scientific journals Desenvolvimento e Meio Ambiente and Environmental Impact Assessment Review.

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Published

2022-04-29

How to Cite

Alves, M. de S., Nascimento, A. T. A., & Fonseca, A. de F. C. . (2022). The experience of the municipalities of Minas Gerais State (Brazil) that implemented local environmental licensing. Sustainability in Debate, 13(1), 50. https://doi.org/10.18472/SustDeb.v13n1.2022.41539

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 1 (2022): Sustainability in Debate / Sustentabilidade em Debate

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Dossier

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