Forest concessions and social participation are the focus of debate among the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF), Imaflora, the Brazilian Forest Service (SFB), and civil society

The governance of Brazil’s public forests and the mechanisms for social participation applied to the forest concession process were at the center of the third meeting of the Knowledge Journey on Forest Concessions, held last Friday (23). The activity, promoted by the Brazilian Forest Service (SFB) in partnership with the Institute for Forest and Agricultural Management and Certification (Imaflora), brought together prosecutors from the Federal Public Prosecutor’s Office (MPF) and representatives of civil society in a virtual debate.

The event featured Cristina Galvão, General Coordinator for Forest Concession Contract Management at the SFB, who presented the legal and administrative instruments that ensure transparency and social participation at the different stages of forest concessions.

Among the mechanisms highlighted were the Public Forest Management Commission (CG-Flop), public consultation processes for concession notices, public hearings, and free, prior, and informed consultation (FPIC) with Indigenous peoples and traditional communities. According to Cristina, the public notice is only the starting point for dialogue. “Experience has shown us that consultations need to be adapted to local contexts and that institutional learning is ongoing,” she emphasized.

One of the highlights of the meeting was the application of ILO Convention 169, which addresses the right of Indigenous peoples and traditional communities to free, prior, and informed consultation. Dr. Eduardo Sanches, a prosecutor from the MPF, questioned whether the current model ensures respect for the traditional decision-making processes of these peoples. Cristina responded that the process has been improving, citing the case of the Jatuarana National Forest, where “areas were removed from the public notice following Indigenous demands raised during in-person meetings.”

The participation of Nilcélio Jiahui, an Indigenous representative, reinforced the need to respect the timing and cultural protocols of communities. “It is important that consultations take place before the launch of the public notices,” he stated. Cristina replied that, in the areas of Balata Tufari, Ikiri, and Castanho, public notices will only be launched after the completion of full consultations with Indigenous peoples.

Another key topic was the governance of the use of revenues collected from forest exploitation. Cristina explained that new contracts include clauses on ancillary obligations, whose resources must be invested in local development actions, with the participation of the advisory councils of conservation units. “The concessionaire is responsible for identifying community demands and consolidating a plan, which must be validated by the council,” she explained.

Leonardo Sobral, Director of Forests and Restoration at Imaflora, highlighted the importance of strengthening advisory councils and expanding the involvement of local populations. “With forest concessions and their instruments, the revenues collected return in the form of concrete benefits for those who live in the forest,” he said.

In June, the final meeting of the journey is scheduled, focusing on FPIC (free, prior, and informed consultation) as applied to forest concessions, along with an in-person event at the MPF Amazonas auditorium, which will conclude the activities of the journey.

The initiative aims to train prosecutors, public managers, and community leaders to build a more transparent, participatory, and sustainable model for the use of public forests in Brazil. The next meeting will take place on June 6 and will focus exclusively on the challenges of FPIC in the context of forest concessions.