GEO Brasil - UNEP

4.2.3. Positive Impacts from the Use of Direct Planting
in Brazil
Direct planting is a highly conservationist management
system, which was developed by public research with the
fundamental private enterprise participation (farmers, cooperatives,
companies etc.) From 1974 to 1992, this system’s
adoption area grew 132 times. In the ‘90s there was an 11
million hectare expansion and in 2000 this system already
spanned some 14.3 million ha. In the Cerrado woods there
was an increase of over 1.2 million hectares, from 1996 to
1999.
Acceptance of direct planting is due, mainly, to its effects
on hydro erosion control since the problem is anything but
eliminated. However, it also stems from other important
advantages that encourage its adoption, such as positive
impacts soil and water quality, and economic and financial
stability in the rural communities. The tendency on the
system’s adoption rate is that of sustainable growth.
However, that growth’s magnitude will depend to a large
extent on public policies and on the involved participants
organisation of the participants that provide incentives.
Using conventional management systems as a comparison,
estimates on the benefit generated by direct planting were
performed in experimental parcels, calculating the losses
and benefits to the total area used with direct planting.
Thus, based on data organised by De Maria (1999) and
Bragagnolo & Pan (2000), it was estimated that for the area
currently under Direct Planting there is a reduction in soil
losses through erosion of 178.8 million tonnes and 8.3 billion
m3 of water retained in the soil.
4.3. Subsoil
4.3.1. Evolution in the Subsoil vs. Environment
Relation in the 1992 to 2002 Period
Since the 90s, public policies have been striving to associate
economical development and environmental preservation
within the sustainable development concepts. This has
expanded to mining through the sustainable use of mineral
resources.
The Mining Code is the main mineral activity regulatory
instrument, having been put into action by means of Law
Decree 227/1967. Since this has become outdated the text
has been partially reviewed (Law n. 9,314/1996), and still
doesn’t approach environmental issues specifically. This
flaw shall be addressed by the upcoming Mining Statute,
which is being elaborated by the Executive Power (PRISMA,
2001); and that shall also control the deactivation and closing
of mines as well as the large mineral sector’s environmental
debt.
In 1994, DNPM elaborated Pluriannual Plan for the
Development of the Mineral Sector (Plano Plurianual para o
Desenvolvimento do Setor Mineral), with projected actions
until the year 2010. This plan estimates the demand for
mineral goods and necessary investments. The plan
considers the environmental issue as a decisive factor in
the public image of mining.
Also noteworthy is the declaration of Law change no. 9,827/
1999, the so-called City Hall Law, which regulates aggregate
extraction for exclusive use in public construction by the
Union, states the Federal District and municipal agencies,
when performed directly by them.
policies feedback
Based on those calculations and using the same estimates
as those used for erosion related losses, estimated financial
benefit occurred from fertiliser economy, productivity gains
in crops, production cost reduction, reduction in erosion
related land depreciation and reduced use of pesticides.
Including all previous amounts of other positive impacts
obtained as of Landers et al., (2001a), it can be seen that the
benefit from Direct Planting can be estimated as some R$4.3
billion a year . This amount that has been used for continual
life quality enhancement, for farmers in a sustainable
production system over the years.
a) Subsoil and Underground Waters
Over-exploration of springs, contamination of water
resources, compromising of drainage systems,
generalised spread of the use of underground waters,
among other impacts, increased awareness for the need
to regulate this sector This which finally occurred with
the institution of the National Hydra Resources Policy
(Law n. 9,433/1997), which controlled the use of this
natural resources. Underground waters are, unduly part
of state wealth, (Federal Constitution, art.26 – I),
although it is the Union’s responsibility to legislate
waters (FC, art. 22 – IV). The states and the Federal
District have been regulating the matter based on
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