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LATIN AMERICA AND THE CARIBBEAN
BRAZIL
MDG7
Progress Towards Environmental Sustainability
Settlement processes as well as the expansion of agricultural borders have
caused rapid deforestation in Brazil, particularly since the 1990’s. The
annual deforestation average was around 17.6 thousand square kilometers
between 1994 and 2001.The estimate is that, if this rate is maintained,
in little more than 30 years the devastated area will have doubled.
Fortaleza
Recife
Salvador
Brasília
Rio de Janeiro
São Paulo
However, Brazil has a significant potential to develop reforestation and renewable energy projects in the scope of
the Clean Development Mechanism for commercialization of carbon credits. As for ozone depleting gases, Brazil has
satisfactorily achieved the targets of reduction of CFCs consumption according to established standards.
Brazil concentrates 13.7% of the surface freshwater of the world and its water production reaches almost 20% of the production
of all countries. However, there is a share of the population that still has no access to adequate water supply services. In urban areas
the percentage of the population with access to water supply systems increased from 88.3%, in 1992, to 91.3%, in 2002. In rural
areas, however, coverage is much lower: the population served by the general water supply system increased from 12.3%, in 1992,
to a mere 22.7%, in 2002.
The issue of access to basic sanitation is more worrisome. Out of the sewerage volume collected in the country, only one third is
treated, which contributes to the deterioration of environmental conditions in Brazilian human settlements.
In Brazil, there has been an increase in the proportion of urban houses with appropriate housing conditions, increasing from 50.5%
in 1992 to 59.5% in 2002. Despite improvement in average housing
conditions of Brazilians, a considerable share of urban housing
QUICK FACTS
CURRENT PORTFOLIO BUDGET
Total UNDP-GEF and Co-Finance: $63,390,762
Total UNDP and Co-Finance: $469,831,410
Total MPU and Bilateral: $32,920,797
Total: $566,142,969
PERU
CHILE
Pacific
Ocean
GUYANA
VENEZUELA
COLOMBIA
BOLIVIA
BRAZIL
PARAGUAY
ARGENTINA
URUGUAY
Atlantic
Ocean
stock (41.5%) still presents some sort of housing inadequacy, either
in relation to increased density, or to lack of water and sanitation
services, ill-defined property rights, non-compliance with civil construction
standards or houses built with non-durable materials. 1
Cumulative Total ODS Phased-Out: 7,946.6 ODP tonnes
SPOTLIGHT
CSOs Build Partnerships and Networks for Environmental Conservation 2
Brazil’s Cerrado is open woodland of short twisted trees. Covering nearly a quarter of the country’s total land area, the Cerrado
is the second most important biome in Brazil, after the Amazon. However, approximately 70% is considered to have suffered
from human pressures of some kind, including the expansion of the Brazilian agricultural frontier for grain production and cattle
breeding, as well as unsustainable harvesting for charcoal production.
UNDP is implementing a project funded by GEF to protect areas near two national parks in the Cerrado that function as an ecological
corridor. The project has encouraged the private sector and civil society organizations (CSOs) to participate in biodiversity
conservation through the establishment of wildlife sanctuaries, known as private natural heritage reserves. Drawing on best
practices, the project is establishing mechanisms for the sustainability of these private reserves and intends to disseminate the
lessons and experience to other landowners.
Numerous CSOs are playing a significant role in the successful implementation of this project, including Funatura, which originally
proposed the project, the Rural Worker’s Union of Formoso Municipality, and the Community Association of Buracos. The
participation of these organizations has encouraged institutions from a variety of sectors and the local community to become
closely involved in seeing that the project’s objectives are achieved. As a result of their partnership with UNDP-GEF, four fullyfunctioning
private natural heritage reserves have been established, with management plans under operation. Awareness of
best practices has been created among other landowners and a number of them now participate in the project. In addition,
the technical staff of the private reserves have been trained in protected area planning and management, along with ecotourism
development. This project is an excellent example of how CSOs are building effective partnerships and networks in
BIODIVERSITY
support of environmental conservation. *
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