Rural Environmental Registry undergoes ‘recall’ in states – 12/18/2023 – Environment

The country has been dragging its feet for a decade to implement the CAR (Rural Environmental Registry) — a record of all rural properties in the country, a type of farm ID —, with slow progress. Still far from the destination, the CAR already needs a “recall”, due to old information. A call center was even set up in the state of São Paulo to assist with the situation.

But, despite the implementation dragging on, there was an evolution in 2023, according to an analysis by the CPI (Climate Policy Initiative), a research group that has a partnership with PUC-Rio (Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro). The study was released this Monday (18).

“We saw a jump”, says Cristina Leme Lopes, senior research manager at CPI/PUC-Rio. However, progress has not been uniform, with some states remaining considerably behind in the process.

The CAR is an instrument established by the 2012 Forest Code, as a central element of the legislation on the subject.

It is from CAR data — self-declared — that governments know whether rural landowners are in compliance with the law or not. For example, for farms in the Amazon, owners need to keep 80% of the native vegetation standing — this is called a legal reserve. If the appropriate percentage is not available, the owner must adapt. This entry stage, that is, registration by owners, is already consolidated across the country, according to the researchers’ annual analysis.

But, from then on, the problematic issues begin.

After self-declaration, an analysis is necessary to check whether the data provided is correct. Everything needs to be geolocated —that is, pointed out precisely on maps—, like the layout of rivers. These markings are necessary to check whether the farm is within public or indigenous areas, for example.

The analysis stage is identified by the survey as the most challenging in implementing the Forest Code. One of the problems at this stage is the age of the registration data analyzed, which, in many cases, is from several years ago.

“The registrations were made way back, rural properties have changed in the last ten years. When you take a satellite image of land use occupation today, it is not the same as it was ten years ago. What you stated back then is no longer It’s true for today’s reality”, explains Lopes.

Another point mentioned is the technological evolution of geospatial information. Lopes states that, while in the past records that may have been more simplified were allowed, today the databases used for evaluation have much higher accuracy.

“The databases from ten years ago did not see the territory as they do today”, says the specialist. “You’re going to have inconsistencies because of the evolution of technology in terms of recognizing spatial detail.”

For these reasons, while writing the report, the CPI/PUC-Rio experts heard from many technicians in the area the idea that a “recall” of CARs is taking place.

Evolution

But, even with these difficulties, it can be said that the analysis stage was one of those that showed progress, according to the new study.

One of the new developments —which emerged a few years ago, it is worth saying, but is gaining ground— related to CAR analysis are automated processes. The study indicates that mechanisms of this type have already been implemented in six states: Amapá, Mato Grosso do Sul, Minas Gerais, Pará, Paraná and São Paulo.

Automation simplifies the process, already crossing different databases and checking whether the information is complete and correct. In this way, owners with a CAR that complies with the rules advance more quickly through the analysis “funnel”.

One of the systems that do this is the so-called dynamic analysis, developed by the SFB (Brazilian Forest Service). In this case, when inconsistencies are noticed, the system itself suggests and makes corrections — almost like a “Did you mean…” that we sometimes come across in internet search tools.

The owner, in turn, may or may not agree with the rectification made; If you do not agree, the analysis goes to technical teams.

Once registration inconsistencies are resolved, the system identifies whether the property has environmental liabilities, such as a lower percentage of native coverage than legally required. The owner, if he has pending issues, is then referred to the so-called PRA (Environmental Regularization Program), in which he can sign a commitment to adapt — regenerating or compensating areas.

São Paulo, as previously mentioned, was one of the entities to implement dynamic analysis. Lopes says that, in the state, almost 90% of everything that went through the automated system required some rectification.

But, with automation, São Paulo became the state with the largest number of CARs with analyzes already started — there are more than 387 thousand, around 92% of the total properties. The study points out that, if the state manages to engage producers to accept the results of the analysis and adhere to the PRA, it will have the possibility of being a leader in the implementation of the Forest Code in Brazil.

Even with automated analyses, it is necessary, however, to contact the owner — and then other problems arise. If the bases on land use are already outdated, imagine the contact information for rural producers.

The study classifies this as the current major bottleneck. “The notification does not reach the owner”, summarizes the senior research manager.

The contact request is sent in the system—but the owner is not necessarily looking at this tool—or, in many cases, in emails from consultants who were, many years ago, hired to register by the farm owner.

“The effort today in the states is communication to make producers aware that they need to enter the registers and identify if they have a notification to review”, says Lopes.

The expert again mentions São Paulo, which, in addition to physical collective efforts, put FaleCAR into action, a type of call-center to help rural landowners. The CPI study shows that, from April to November 2023, there were more than 8,000 calls to FaleCAR.

The state also actively searches for owners of farms where the CAR was analyzed and there is no pending issue, so that, within the system, they agree to the automated analysis and, thus, complete the process.

Other states started to use the suspension of the CAR as a strategy to attract the attention of owners, says Lopes. If the property owner does not respond to the notification, the CAR is suspended, which currently makes it impossible to grant rural credit.

In 2023, the Central Bank instituted National Monetary Council resolution 5,081, according to which credit cannot be granted to canceled or suspended CARs.

According to Lopes, the evolution seen in the implementation of the CAR, in many cases, was not quantitative, but rather qualitative. She cites Minas Gerais as an example, as the state’s environmental agenda is being created following the implementation of the code.

Other highlights were Alagoas and Pará — considered one of the federative entities that have been leading the code’s agenda.

Considering the country as a whole — and with the great concentration of attention and efforts on the CAR analysis phase — the final parts of the implementation of the Forest Code, that is, regularization, with possible areas of environmental regeneration, still seem distant. .

The panorama could even become more complex, according to the survey, depending on the outcome of the judgment on embargoes declaring ADIs (Direct Actions of Unconstitutionality) that are ongoing at the STF (Supreme Federal Court).

The judgment in question could change the understanding regarding legal reserve compensation — part of the environmental regularization process. According to the research group, depending on the STF’s decision, there may be legal uncertainty, judicialization and penalization of producers who have regularized themselves through compensation.