BRAZIL EMBARKS ON PROGRAM TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT OF

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SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: SENV KSCA EAID KGHG EAGR BR
SUBJECT: BRAZIL EMBARKS ON PROGRAM TO IMPROVE MANAGEMENT OF
NATIONAL PARKS AND USG IS HELPING

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(U) THIS CABLE IS SENSITIVE BUT UNCLASSIFIED AND NOT FOR INTERNET
DISTRIBUTION.


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: The relatively new Brazilian Chico Mendes
Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio),the agency
responsible for national parks and protected area system, has
launched a program to improve its park management. It seeks to
introduce public use plans for its parks, and the USG is providing
technical support for this effort. The U.S. Forest Service provided
an expert on special uses, permits and concessions to a recent
ICMBio workshop of park managers in Foz do Iguassu and is hosting
visits by key ICMBio officials. The introduction of effective
public use planning and the development of concession plans should
help generate revenues to support ICMBio's activities as well as
improve public access to protected areas around Brazil. These
activities will also promote reducing deforestation and conserving
biodiversity. END SUMMARY.

BACKGROUND


2. (SBU) ICMBio was created in 2007 and manages a large number of
parks and protected areas, covering over 20% of Brazil's territory.
ICMBio is attempting to prepare or review concession plans for ten
priority national parks by the end of 2009. In September 2008,
Brazil's President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva announced the "Tourism
in Parks" Program, which details the various actions and activities
that will be implemented by both the Ministry of Environment (MMA)
and the Ministry of Tourism (MT) in order to increase the number of
visitors in the country's national parks. For the first part of the
Program, the Government of Brazil will invest approximately USD 11.5
million. MMA and MT will be responsible for investing USD 7 million
and USD 4.5 million, respectively, for the improvement of park
infrastructure such as trails, camping areas, and also larger
structures such as roads and airports in remote areas.

USG SUPPORT


3. (SBU) Iguassu National Park is Brazil's most visited and best
developed park. It also is unique with its concession contract,
which provides for a hotel and numerous recreational activities.
The first concession contract was signed in December of 1998 for a
fifteen-year period. After the conclusion of the recent economic
feasibility study for Iguassu, a five-year extension was agreed
upon. USAID funded this economic feasibility study and also funded
a similar study for the Fernando de Noronha Marine National Park.


4. (SBU) Participants in the April 1 Seminar included ICMBio's
legal counsel and environmental analysts working on park management
activities. Presentations were about the legal aspect of Brazil's
concession system and the concessionaires' perspective of the
partnership. In response to a request from ICMBio's Director of
Public Uses, Julio Gonchorosky, U.S Forest Service and Embassy
representatives provided supported for the seminar Gonchorosky is
seeking to develop a partnership with the USG in protected areas
management.


5. (SBU) USFS sent Robert Kates ,a Special Uses Program Manager, to
give a presentation on the history of concessions in the United
States' protected areas. Kates explained the current U.S. Forest
Service and National Park Service concession process, as well as
challenges faced and lessons learned. He also participated on a
panel with Gonchorosky, Guilhermo Martin (head of public uses for
Argentina National Parks) and Camila Rodrigues (Brazilian Ministry
of the Environment Protected Areas Specialist) on concessions.


6. (SBU) The U.S. Forest Service coordinated a technical visit to
provide additional support for Brazil's efforts with protected areas
management. In May and June, 2009, two key ICMBio coordinators from
the Office of Public Use under the Directory of Protected Areas
visited the United States for technical field trips and meetings for
a three week period. The main purpose of the visit was to get
familiar with the work of the U.S. Forest Service and National Park
Service with an emphasis on economic modeling, development of
concessions, monitoring of special uses permits and concessions and
the overall supervision of concession activities. Upon their
return, they will now help train ICMBio staff in preparation for the
development of Brazil's national concession plans as well as the
development of the Scope of Work for an upcoming U.S. Forest Service
technical visit to Brazil.


7. (SBU) At the end of July, 2009, Gonchorosky will lead a small
team from ICMBio in a technical visit to the United States to better
understand the challenges faced by the different agencies
responsible for the management of parks, forests and wildlife
reserves. The main topics of discussion will include visitation,
concessions, concession services monitoring, infrastructure,
protection, research, access to remote protected areas and human

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resource allocation. Moreover, in September 2009, U.S. Forest
Service experts will come to Brazil for a three week period to
assist the Brazilians in the process of evaluating ICMBio's needs as
they are establishing the appropriate public uses for various
protected areas. This U.S. Forest Service team will work with
ICMBio to develop a three year workplan, which will provide guidance
on activities such as concession planning, monitoring, management,
overall capacity building, and project development. Also this team
will strengthen the relationship between the U.S. Forest Service and
ICMBio. In addition, the U.S. Forest Service is collaborating with
Colorado State University to develop a workshop and provide speakers
during Brazil's Protected Area Congress. The three-day workshop
will provide training on Public Use Planning.

8. (SBU) COMMENT: Brazil is taking positive steps as it develops
its protected areas policies. The partnership between ICMBio and
the U.S Forest Service and the National Park Service has good
prospects for being very fruitful. The Brazilians are looking to
the United States for technical expertise to help them move in the
right direction and avoid repeating our mistakes in this field.
Fortunately, the USG is able to respond positively. END COMMENT
SOBEL