Change the limits and categories of protected areas is necessarily bad? A study case in two state protected areas in the Brazilian Amazon

The revision of boundaries and categories of protected areas had been frequent in the Brazilian Amazon. However, few studies characterizing the historical events and the role of regional stakeholders associate to technical and political processes of revision of boundaries and categories of conservation units. In this study were investigate the historical events associated to change of limits and categories of two state parks in the Amazonas State. We recorded 56 historical events and identified 26 institutional stakeholders relevant to management of both protected areas. The process of revision of limits and category was finished in the Rio Negro State Park - Southern Sector. In contrast, unstructured social demands and an unfavorable context in the Amazonas State environmental policy impeding the conclusion of the processes in the Rio Negro State Park - Northern Sector. Change of the limits and categories of conservation units could be a valid strategy to partially solving the land conflicts in protected areas. Such proposals, however, needs be based in detailed technical and scientific analysis negotiated between local communities, managers, and political representation to avoid prejudices in the protection of biodiversity.