Outcome 1: Strengthened governance framework contributes to avoiding, reducing and reverting land degradation in Sergipe ASD
In order to improve the policy and planning framework in Sergipe, the project will support the collection of detailed information lacking in the PAE-SE to strengthen the planning framework to support implementation of the PAE-SE. In addition, the state-level land use planning and sector programs will incorporate key elements from the PAE-SE and identify appropriate SLM practices for different types of Caatinga vegetation and different degrees of land degradation.
Collaboration with the state-level Ecological and Economic Zoning (EEZ) process will seek to include appropriate consideration of land degradation in the Caatinga, which has not been dealt with in previous EEZ efforts carried out in other regions of Brazil. Cross-sectoral and inter-institutional mechanisms will be strengthened to facilitate integrated land use planning by helping the Standing Group to Combat Desertification (GPCD) to facilitate integrated decision-making processes among different sectors and programs. This will be achieved through interagency dialog with high-level support from the state and federal governments. The objective is to include PAE-SE priorities in state pluri-annual budget allocations (PPA).
A significant entry point for the project to impact LD will be the land use licensing process, so that SEMARH and municipal agencies, where appropriate, take LD issues into account. This will involve staff training, the definition of procedures and processes for SLM practices and clarification of roles and responsibilities for officers involved in licensing procedures. For the issuance of licenses for agricultural and livestock initiatives, the project will promote SLM practices, adherence to the new Forestry Code requirements regarding Legal Reserves (LRs) and Areas of Permanent Preservation (APPs) and the identification of degraded areas that require restoration. The licensing process will be linked to the EEZ so as to define where SFM may be appropriate and the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) that shows where recovery is needed from past lack of compliance with legal requirements. In order for SLM to become operational in environmental regulation, with all the legal implications, it will be necessary to define clearly exactly what qualifies or not in concrete terms. The project will support the development of guidelines for SLM in these areas and for restoration actions in degraded areas or compensation. As part of the licensing process, EIAs for larger public works such as dams and roads will include specific guidance for LD in ASD, outlining measures for prevention of degradation and, where necessary, recovery of degraded areas.
To complement the strengthened licensing system, the project will enhance land use oversight. A training program will be carried out for officers involved in oversight processes at the state and federal levels (SEMARH and IBAMA, respectively). Selected municipal governments will also be strengthened to oversee environmental licensing for activities within their boundaries through the provision of training in licensing, SLM and EEZ and through support for existing or new municipal environmental agencies. For licenses under the responsibility of IBAMA, such as those covering areas over 50,000 ha, the procedures for the issuance of licenses will be revised to promote incorporation of SLM criteria. Additional norms and directives to reduce LD will be developed for different Caatinga ecosystems and degrees of degradation. This federal-level advocacy can be achieved with support of the National Commission to Combat Desertification (NCCD), which is coordinated by MMA.
In all cases, in addition to specific training courses organized by the project, greater impact will be achieved through outreach initiatives by including classes and contents in existing training programs in university degree programs, university extension, federal technical institutes The project will also prepare and disseminate training materials such as manuals, folders, data-show presentations and inputs for pages for websites of government and international agencies and non-governmental organizations generating capacity development results reaching far beyond the areas of direct project action. Co-funders will be encouraged to provide support for graduate students to do field work for theses and dissertations on new experiences with SLM. Finally, in order to support the creation of an enabling environment for replication, the project will develop a communications strategy and promote knowledge management and information dissemination to various target groups on best practices in SLM based on experiences in Sergipe.
Outcome 1 will be delivered through the four outputs, described in greater detail in following paragraphs: a) Sergipe's state policy and planning framework supports integration of SLM in ASD; b) State land use licensing processes stimulate appropriate measures to reduce LD; c) Monitoring land use optimized for the implementation of SLM in ASD; d) Supportive national-level governance framework increases adoption of SLM in Sergipe and facilitates replication in NE.
