(I)legality in the use of mercury in mining: popular participation in the Middle Juruá Territory
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.22409/ag3zmb41Abstract
Mercury management failures can be seen in illegal mining, exacerbating the potential for contaminating preserved forest areas and exposing communities to mercury. Although Brazil has legal regulations to control the use of mercury in mining, it is estimated that the sector releases approximately 50 tons of mercury into the environment annually. This study assesses whether the participatory movement of the "Middle Juruá Territory" (TMJ), in southwestern Amazonas state, supports popular participation as an appropriate instrument for promoting effective public policies for mercury control in mining. To this end, the research investigated the actions of competent public agencies in response to the demands of TMJ communities. The research results infer that effective natural resource management requires adaptive governance that allows public participation in government decision-making processes.