CONTEXTUALIZATION 

The Forest Code (Law No. 12,651 of May 25, 2012) made the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) mandatory. This is an electronic record aimed at integrating environmental information related to rural properties and land holdings. In addition to CAR, the Forest Code establishes the obligation of state and federal governments to implement Environmental Regularization Programs (PRA), with the goal of addressing environmental liabilities of rural properties and land holdings.

The economy of the state of Acre has a strong presence of the timber and non-timber forest sector. Due to the historical importance of this sector, the state's environmental policy seeks to enhance forest assets in order to further increase the contribution of forest activities to the local economy.

To ensure that this contribution grows in an orderly and sustainable manner, the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR), together with the Environmental Regularization Program (PRA), have become important tools for rural property planning and the recovery of degraded areas.

THE PROJECT

The project aimed to support the implementation of the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and the adherence to the Environmental Regularization Program (PRA) in the state of Acre. It was structured into four components:

(i) Adjustment of the state’s legal framework;
(ii) Improvement of infrastructure and capacity building for state environmental and technical assistance agencies for the implementation and management of CAR and PRA;
(iii) Promotion and support for CAR registration; and
(iv) Promotion and support for the adherence of rural properties and land holdings to PRA.

In the third and fourth components, the mobilization and awareness-raising of rural producers for CAR registration were carried out through events and meetings in municipalities, the establishment of fixed and mobile service centers, direct visits to rural properties, and the distribution of educational and informational materials.

The project's target audience primarily included owners or holders of family farming properties of up to four fiscal modules located in rural areas of all 22 municipalities of Acre, covering an area of approximately 9 million hectares. The project also benefited the government of the state of Acre and medium and large rural landowners through actions aimed at adjusting the state's regulatory framework and improving infrastructure and staff training for CAR implementation.

INTERVENTION LOGIC

The project was part of Component 2, "Monitoring and Control," of the Amazon Fund Logical Framework.

Its direct effects were defined as follows:

• State institutions responsible for environmental monitoring, control, and accountability were structured and modernized for the implementation and management of the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and the Environmental Regularization Program (PRA); and
• Expanded access for rural producers in the state of Acre to the environmental regularization of their properties.

Click on the following image to view its objectives tree, that is, how the project's outputs and linked to the expected outcomes and impact.

ACTIVITIES CONDUCTED

Component 1: Adjustment of the State’s Legal Framework

Activities under this component were carried out with support from the State Attorney General’s Office (PGE) and other partners, such as the German Agency for International Cooperation (GIZ), without the use of resources from the Amazon Fund.

In 2016, the Government of the State of Acre, through the State Secretariat for the Environment (SEMA) and the Acre Environmental Institute (IMAC), began developing the regulatory framework for the PRA. The draft bill was approved by the State Legislative Assembly on December 18, 2017. In 2018, State Decree No. 9,025 of June 4, 2018, was published, regulating State Law No. 3,349/2017, which established PRA-Acre. Additionally, Joint Resolution CEMACT/CFE/CEDRFS No. 01 of June 18, 2018, was issued, approving the Forest Restoration Matrix and the List of Species recommended for Forest Restoration as technical references for the formulation of Degraded and Altered Area Restoration Projects (PRADAs) under PRA-Acre.

Component 2: Improvement of Infrastructure and Capacity Building for State Environmental and Technical Assistance Agencies for the Implementation and Management of CAR and PRA

This component included the following activities:

a) A training course conducted in partnership with the Federal University of Lavras (UFLA) through the Foundation for Scientific and Cultural Development (FUNDECC), covering topics such as the use and operation of SICAR-Acre, environmental legislation related to CAR, and methods and techniques for public service;
b) Acquisition of equipment and office supplies to support the infrastructure of agencies involved in CAR implementation, including IT equipment (computers, monitors, UPS devices, among others), furniture (desks, chairs, cabinets, etc.), and general office materials;
c) Development of the Customized Rural Environmental Registry System of the State of Acre (SICAR-Acre), whose technological solution architecture includes: (i) Registration Module integrated with a Local Receiving Tool; (ii) Support Module for Rural Property Analysis; (iii) Support Module for Environmental Monitoring; (iv) Support Module for PRA; (v) Support Module for Information Management and Management Reports; and (vi) Security and Audit Module. In 2017, the Support Module for Rural Property Analysis became fully operational. In 2018, the Support Modules for PRA, Environmental Monitoring, and Information Management and Management Reports were completed and implemented, finalizing the development and deployment of SICAR-Acre;
d) Thematic Databases, including digital processing of satellite images and scene mosaicking; integration of this database into the Support Module for Rural Property Analysis of SICAR; and delivery of a Web Geographic Information System for managing and publishing the Thematic Digital Cartographic Database.

Component 3: Promotion and Support for CAR Registration

The strategy for supporting CAR registration combined three service formats: the “Fixed Service System,” which included 22 service centers in partnership with IMAC, SEAPROF, and INCRA, located in municipalities with the highest concentration of rural properties; the “Mobile Service System,” with four teams of 10 professionals operating throughout the state; and “Active Search,” which involved visiting rural properties and land holdings to collect the necessary information and documents for property registration in SICAR-Acre.

Registrations were also carried out under the so-called perimeter CAR, which involves registering the perimeter of differentiated settlement projects where individual plot boundaries are not defined. In such cases, perimeter CAR registration provides the same legal status as a conventional CAR, covering all officially settled agrarian reform beneficiaries within the differentiated settlement projects.

Component 4: Promotion and Support for the Adherence of Rural Properties and Land Holdings to PRA

Activities under this component began with the establishment of seven fixed service centers in the cities of Rio Branco, Cruzeiro do Sul, Brasiléia, Feijó, Tarauacá, and Sena Madureira, providing support to owners or holders of rural properties in joining PRA-Acre. Additionally, a company was contracted to provide technical assistance in the preparation of PRADAs and Environmental Commitment Terms (TCAs).

Result and impact indicators

The project activities contributed to the outcomes related to Component (2) – Monitoring and Control of the Fundo Amazônia Logical Framework.

The main indicators agreed upon for monitoring this objective were:

Direct Outcome 2.1 - State environmental monitoring, control, and accountability institutions structured and modernized for the implementation and management of the Rural Environmental Registry (CAR) and the Environmental Regularization Program (PRA)

Direct Outcome 2.2 - Expanded access for rural producers in the State of Acre to the environmental regularization of their properties.

Outcome Indicators

• Number of rural properties with CAR registration requests submitted
  Target: 30,000 | Achieved: 72,947

• Number of rural properties up to 4 fiscal modules with CAR registration requests submitted
  Target: 27,000 | Achieved: 68,854

• Area of rural properties with CAR registration requests submitted (hectares)
  Target: 6,600,000 | Achieved: 16,336,353

• Area of rural properties up to 4 fiscal modules with CAR registration requests submitted (hectares)
  Target: 1,200,000 | Achieved: 6,797,976.57

• Number of rural properties with PRA registration requests submitted
  Target: 12,000 | Achieved: 1,530

• Number of rural properties up to 4 fiscal modules with PRA registration requests submitted
  Target: 5,000 | Achieved: 1,268

• Area of rural properties up to 4 fiscal modules with PRA registration requests submitted (hectares)
  Target: 500,000 | Achieved: 102,394

Regarding the PRA-related results, the state argues that producer adherence to the PRA was lower than expected. Additionally, the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic impacted in-person services and environmental task forces for CAR notification, correction, and PRA registration. However, a positive outcome was observed in the number of CAR analyses conducted - an activity less dependent on face-to-face contact - which exceeded the initially planned target by approximately 20%.

• Individuals trained for CAR and PRA implementation and management (number of public servants)
  Target: 200 | Achieved: 113

Outputs Indicators

• Number of rural properties up to 4 fiscal modules that received support for CAR registration through “active search” for information and documentation collection
  Target: 27,000 | Achieved: 49,393

• Area of rural properties up to 4 fiscal modules that received support for CAR registration through “active search” (hectares)
  Target: 1,200,000 | Achieved: 5,990,475.18

• Number of rural properties up to 4 fiscal modules with Technical Environmental Analysis Reports
  Target: 10,000 | Achieved: 12,496

• Area of rural properties up to 4 fiscal modules with Technical Environmental Analysis Reports (hectares)
  Target: 1,000,000 | Achieved: 2,079,808.22

• Number of rural properties up to 4 fiscal modules with Projects for the Restoration of Degraded and Altered Areas (PRADA) developed
  Target: 5,000 | Achieved: 387

• Area of rural properties up to 4 fiscal modules with PRADA developed (hectares)
  Target: 500,000 | Achieved: 29,546.79

As previously mentioned, the results related to the PRA are explained by the low adherence of producers and the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic. Nevertheless, the strong performance in the number of CAR analyses conducted (“Number of rural properties up to 4 fiscal modules with Technical Environmental Analysis Reports”) stands out, as this activity is less reliant on in-person contact and exceeded the initial target by approximately 20%.

Institutional and administrative aspects

State Decree No. 7,734, dated June 6, 2014, established the Technical Office for the Management of the CAR and PRAAC, responsible for managing the CAR and its instruments, through joint action between SEMA (State Secretariat for the Environment) and IMAC (Institute of Environment of Acre).

The Technical Assistance and Rural Extension Company (EMATER) supported the process by providing services in all 22 municipalities of Acre, promoting the CAR and assisting with registration and corrections. Federal Law No. 12,651/2012 instituted the CAR and initially set a four-year deadline for registration, which was subsequently extended several times.

Technical partnerships played a fundamental role, notably with GIZ and the Amazon Environmental Research Institute (IPAM). These partners conducted studies and diagnostics of areas with environmental liabilities, assessed environmental conditions in Permanent Preservation Areas (APPs) and Legal Reserves (RLs) in Acre, proposed forest restoration methodologies using Agroforestry Systems (SAFs), developed a decision-making key (matrix) based on the Forest Code, analyzed CAR overlaps using a “database cleaning” methodology, facilitated exchanges, among many other activities.

Risks and lessons learned

The project achieved significant results for the State, contributing to its environmental policy. The establishment of the Technical Office for the Management of CAR and PRA AC ensured continuity in the technical coordination of the project, even across different electoral mandates, and enabled the integration of technical, financial, and administrative resources during and after the project’s implementation.

The integration of SEMA’s technical team with the development team of the Brazilian Forest Service (SFB), responsible for SICAR, proved to be an effective strategy. It allowed for the development of the state-level CAR system, including customizations, creation of analysis modules, and system maintenance. States that were more advanced in CAR implementation, such as Acre and Rondônia, led the development of functionalities, steps, and workflows not yet foreseen at the federal level.

According to the State, the exchange between Acre and Rondônia was essential, involving joint studies, diagnostics, spatial analyses, and specification of SICAR modules, thereby strengthening the implementation of the projects in both states.

Sustainability of results

In 2019, SEMA incorporated into its strategic planning for the years 2020 to 2023, within the scope of implementing the Forest Code and the Environmental Regularization Program – PRA-Acre, a new arrangement for distributing forest restoration incentive projects using agroforestry systems. This arrangement prioritized municipalities and regions with the highest percentages of deforested areas and environmental liabilities located within State Sustainable Use Conservation Units.

Several programs and projects supported this strategy, including the “Amazon Sustainable Landscapes” project, funded by the Global Environment Facility (GEF), and the Global REDD Early Movers (REM) Program. These initiatives contributed to CAR analysis and the development of PRADAs (Projects for the Restoration of Degraded and Altered Areas) and TCAs (Conduct Adjustment Terms).

A key institutional advancement was the creation of the Integrated Center for Geoprocessing and Environmental Monitoring (CIGMA), which provides qualified information to guide government policy strategies. Other important structures include the CAR Office, the Situation Room, the Division of Forest Restoration and Replenishment, and the Geoprocessing Division of IMAC.

At the federal level, the National Policy for the Recovery of Native Vegetation (Proveg), and more recently, traceability strategies, enable tracking of products from origin to final consumer. These mechanisms ensure sustainable production in compliance with environmental legislation and are aligned with the CAR, serving as guiding policies for its initiatives.

New projects offer opportunities to continue implementing the Forest Code and supporting the monitoring of the Environmental Regularization Program, especially for already regularized properties. One such initiative is the recently approved Fundo Amazônia project Towards Zero Illegal Deforestation in the state of Acre.