The National Rural Registration System: History, Current Limitations and Prospects for Environmental Conservation and Land Security

Abstract

The Brazilian rural areas play an important role in the management of environmental and social issues. In these areas decisions are made  which affect the conservation of the remaining natural ecosystems and the social reproduction of farming families. Brazil has the National Rural Registration System (SNCR) linked to a land registry system that aims to give legal certainty for farms owners, ensuring access to public policies, and enabling the planning of the land’s use and occupation and monitoring of environmental legislation. However, this registration system is declaratory and much of the information provided is not confirmed by public institutions. Therefore, this article aims to gather technical information available in the literature about the SNCR to analyze its potential use as an environmental management tool. The declaratory registration system applied was found not to allow registration data to be used for planning and monitoring of social and environmental policies, leading to several scams associated with tax payments, changes of ownership, access to credit in the banking system, and irregular use of public or protected areas.