Environment policy and governance in Brazil: challenges and prospects

Brazil is a country endowed with abundant natural wealth: it holds nearly 13 per cent of all surface water in the world, is the second leading country in terms of forest1 area and is rst in tropical forest area. Moreover, it is extremely rich in biodiversity. The country possesses at least 13 per cent of the entire world’s species, many of which exist exclusively in the country (Lewinsohn and Prado 2006; FAO 2006). However, those numbers, which indicate enormous natural capital, hide numerous environmental problems that aect the population.