The objective of this work was to evaluate the management effectiveness from data collected in the field, through the application of questionnaires to the managers of those areas and consultation with secondary data of manager institutions. The questionnaire methodology used was the Scenery Matrix, where possible sceneries were established, from the worst situation to the best expected situation for each management indicator chosen. The results showed that the creation of conservation units in the State of Minas Gerais occurs without the expectation that they will fulfill the objectives established in their creation or defined in the choice of their category. Only one conservation unit presented a satisfactory level of management, and 60% of the units have poor management level. The national units located in the State show, in average, better results than the state ones, and 87% (34 units) out of the total do not have a Management Plan, and neither of them has a planning process. The picture shown in this study reveals a clear need of thinking over the creation process and management of conservation units in Minas Gerais, and when comparing with other studies, it was observed that unfortunately this is also true in other States such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro and Mato Grosso.
Conservation units; management effectiveness; protected areas
