PARTICIPATION OF SOCIETY IN PROTECTED AREAS: OUTLOOK FROM BRAZILIAN ENVIRONMENTAL LEGISLATION

The related debate to participation in protected areas includes issues which are beneficial to nature protection policy and to the population, since participatory practices can be of great value to the State - because it ceases to be the only responsible for social policies - and for civil society - since, the expansion of political participation is relevant to guarantee autonomy, empowerment, reduction of injustices, and generate social and economic benefits. Therefore, the present work analyzes the Brazilian law related to protected areas, in order to understand how the principle of participation is inserted in these documents, from the execution of the documentary analysis technique. It was observed that the participation theme is present in the legislation on protected areas since the Lei n. 4.771/65, but without there being radicality in the participation forms, which is limited to the aid that society could provide to the State. After the promulgation of the Constituicao de 1988, it is observed in the laws a deeper understanding of the concept of participation, which refers to possibilities for decision-making and management between the State and civil society.