Environmental Macro-Monitoring

Project BRA/95/028 -- Start Year: 1995; Approved Budget: US880,000; End Year: 2001; Implementing Agent: NEX (National Execution Related Projects); Executing Agent: IBAMA – Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources.

Project background and rationale: In Environmental monitoring in Brazil lacks of consistency and continuity, due to the fact that the data collected by the several entities engaged in the monitoring process are not subject to adequate analysis. The lack of systematic information on natural resources in Brazil is a great hindrance to efficacious policy-making in the environment sector. Monitoring aims at recovering and consolidating available data and transforming it into inputs for the decision-making process. Moreover, it provides the information necessary to define the profile of specific areas and to verify the impacts of natural or human activities. With adequate information, it would be possible to define policies, to formulate instruments for the planning and management of natural resources and to provide a solid basis for the issuance of environmental permits, control, supervision, and environmental education.

Project development goal: This project aims at contributing to the rational exploitation and sustainable use of hydric, atmospheric and energy resources in Brazil through the implementation of an integrated environmental monitoring system.

Project immediate objectives and expected outputs: The project presents the following immediate objectives and outputs:

1. The establishment of a database to provide inputs for the decision-making process regarding the integrated management of hydric resources.

2. The establishment of a database to provide inputs for the decision-making process concerning the control of atmospheric pollution and global climatic changes.

3. The dissemination of environmentally safe technologies using alternative sources of energy.

4. The stablishment of a project management unit within IBAMA to ensure that activities planned are implemented in the most cost-effective manner to achieve the abovementioned objectives.

Contact details: IBAMA - Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis, SAIN L4 Norte, Ed. Sede do IBAMA Bloco C sala 132, 70.800-200 - Brasília – DF, Brazil