Environmental compensation: from the contradiction to the valuation of the environment in Brazil

ABSTRACT

Debates about environmental issues commonly reveal some contradictions between sustainable development and the traditional model of economic growth. In Brazil this discussion is extremely relevant because in their territory in different ways are manifested some of the contradictions that involve situational demands for: economic growth, environmental protection and sustainable development. In this context, the state, as the main agent in the dynamics of management and environmental planning of the territory, has a key role through the development and implementation of public policies consistent with this purpose. As currently the state has been conducting massive investments in sectors considered strategic for economic growth, environmental vector has been extremely pressed and increasingly valued. Thus, in this replete context of contradictory actions, our paper aims to approach some aspects of environmental compensation/offset in Brazil, an instrument of environmental policy linked to the environmental licensing process, which ends up valuing the environment from the financial burden of entrepreneurs, public or private, in construction projects of significant environmental impacts.

Keywords:
Environment; Territorial Policies; Environmental Management; Environmental Compensation; Environmental Licensing