Governance Through Output 1.4, the development of a supportive national-level governance framework will facilitate replication in the NE and Brazil as a whole through the revision of procedures for the issuance of licenses and oversight under federal domain (IBAMA) to incorporate SLM criteria and practices. For example, it will be shown that wood harvesting and rotation of small cleared plots with sufficient fallow (roça de toco) and wild collection for sustainable use of biodiversity, although they may be considered detrimental to the environment, do not necessarily generate negative impacts and can be beneficial, especially as compared to monocultures and pastures that replace small-scale family farming. The DCD will be strengthened within the MMA and in relations with other ministries. Replication will be promoted through the development of norms and technical directives regarding licensing, oversight, rural extension and credit to prevent, reduce and mitigate LD for Caatinga ecosystems and degradation levels in NE region working through the NCCD and CONAMA, as well as changes to similar norms and/or procedures at the state level. All this work within Brazil will create many opportunities for interaction with other countries with areas subject to desertification, as has already begun with Chile and African countries.
The incorporation in public policies of technical guidelines for SLM, renewed licensing framework and other outputs of the Project depends on a good flow of information and strength of decision-making and communication channels in which the participation of stakeholders is guaranteed. The Project will enhance and strength the participatory forums to qualify the decision-making by the government stakeholders with this mandate (under the umbrellas of the NCCD and CONAMA). This will enable building public policies that include SLM practices and are aligned with the national strategy of sustainable rural development and with the PAN.
