Title: The complexities of environmental regulation: the example of the Brazilian Amazon

Authors: Ans Kolk

Addresses: Faculty of Economics, Institute for Environmental Management, Roetersstraat, 11, 1018 WB Amsterdam, The Netherlands

Abstract: International concern over deforestation in the Brazilian Amazon motivated the G-7 to initiate a Pilot Programme for this region in 1990. It was based on a positive assessment of the changes in Brazilian environmental policy. The preparations for the programme and the implementation of its projects met with considerable difficulties. These included domestic opposition to environmental regulation and to international interest for the Amazon, declining commitment to the environmental issue after UNCED, both nationally and internationally, and weak financial and institutional capacity of environmental agencies. However, by proceeding cautiously, representatives of the Brazilian government, the World Bank, donors and NGOs have succeeded in achieving some progress. The Pilot Programme for the Brazilian Amazon clearly illustrates the complexities of the regulation process, particularly in the case of international interest in reducing a primarily nationally induced environmental problem.

Keywords: Brazilian Amazon; deforestation; European Community; NGOs; pilot programme; rainforests; World Bank.

DOI: 10.1504/IJEP.1999.002250

International Journal of Environment and Pollution, 1999 Vol.11 No.1, pp.71-85

Published online: 13 Aug 2003 *

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