Conservation-with-development models in Brazil's agro-pastoral landscapes

Conservation-with-development (CWD) models currently influential in public policies in Brazil are inappropriate for environmental problems in its agro-pastoral regions. Community mobilization, biodiversity, environmental services, and top-down conservation are severely limited as environmental policy initiatives. Using the case of western Sao Paulo, I illustrate these limitations and outline a more appropriate definition of environmental problems, use of spatial scale. and forms of resource governance. The case study and critique illustrate the need to define appropriate biophysical and land-use regions for public policies and to support initiatives within drainage-basin planning institutions. (C) 2001 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.