Itatiaia National Park (RJ)
Credit: Pollyana Ventura / Getty Images
COOPERATION WITH GOVERNMENTS
For more than ten years, we have supported governments at every level—federal, state, and municipal— in planning, structuring, and implementing partnership programs to manage and enhance Brazilian parks so they can foster sustainable tourism, biodiversity conservation, and regional development.
We contribute by sharing good practices, participating in technical visits, helping publicize the project, and fostering dialogue with interested parties. We also collaborate to technically improve studies and projects to meet the needs of governments and comply with the respective Technical Cooperation Agreements.
Furthermore, we work to build the viability and legitimacy of these initiatives by coordinating with the stakeholders involved and strengthening a legal and institutional environment guided by ethics and transparency, which encourages the creation of initiatives committed to the environment and society.
Take a look at some of our work:
PUBLIC-PRIVATE COORDINATION
Attracting the private sector is essential to increase the quality and quantity of investments in implementing and managing parks and ensuring successful partnership programs, generating opportunities for people’s socio-environmental development, leisure, health, and well-being.
Thus, we organize and support meetings and talks to provide a favorable environment for governments and potential partners. Then, they can disseminate the portfolio of projects in parks while a mutual understanding is fostered between the public and private sectors about the needs and interests of all parties involved in this partnership, including society.
As a result, we watch the sector grow. More actors enter who are interested in working in the parks and establishing partnerships with a joint agreement for the conservation of biodiversity, socioeconomic development, and the valorization of the Brazilian natural heritage.
CIVIL SOCIETY MOBILIZATION
Developing park partnerships requires engaging a series of involved actors that influence civil society organizations, local communities, and park users. Therefore, in addition to clarifying the role, potential risks, and benefits of these initiatives, lines of communication must be established to listen to society’s requests and aspirations to develop effective, legitimate public policies.
With this objective in mind, we remain engaged by organizing and participating in events, disseminating studies of our own and third parties, and promoting and speaking on matters relevant to our cause and the appreciation of our parks.
In the specific scope of partnership projects, we contribute to public hearings and consultations, hold meetings, and coordinate with organized groups and civil society entities to help everyone understand the impact of these initiatives.
Image: Chapada Diamantina National Park (BA)
Credit: Aldo Pavan / Getty Images
TRAINING
We believe that the scale of the agenda must be expanded beyond the technical support for governments covered by the cooperation agreements and offer education, training, and qualifications for the teams to develop.
This led us to conduct courses specifically for the technical staff in every governmental sphere. That way, they develop the internal capacity to structure, administer, monitor, and inspect partnership contracts for the management of parks.
Strengthening the governmental roles in fostering and monitoring partnership projects is a must for the private sector to properly perform its duties in alignment with society’s needs and the guidelines established in the contracts.
INSTITUTIONAL PARTNERSHIPS
Semeia believes that, together, our impact will be more significant. Therefore, we work with other organizations that seek innovative solutions to improve public services and transform Brazilian parks.
