The objective of this study was to identify and describe the actions of Brazilian senators in the field of public health in 1995 and 1996. We also sought to determine if profession, regional background, or political party influenced the senators' actions. The actions were divided into three types: legislative (proposal and review of bills and petitions); supervisory (information requests to the executive branch and the establishment of inquiry committees and other special committees); and parliamentary (speeches). The data were collected from two databases maintained by the Senate, namely MATE and DISC. Of the 89 senators who were in office during the study period, 76 were involved with public health issues. Of the total of 667 actions studied, there was a predominance of speeches (43% of all actions), most of them responding to news reported by regional or national media. Supervisory activities were limited (5% of all actions were information requests). The subjects dealt with most frequently were health policies (30%), drugs (9%), regulation of health professions (8%), disease control (7%), and worker health (6%). Concerning the professions of the senators, the most frequent categories were physicians, teachers, and journalists. The senators representing the North and Northeast regions performed 62% of the actions and were involved with almost all the health subjects. Although 43% of the actions were carried out by liberal and right-wing senators, the senators from socialist and labor parties had a stronger proportional participation (both in terms of senators involved and actions performed). It is interesting to note that socialist and labor senators showed minimal involvement in the issue of worker health. The predominance of speeches as a prevalent type of action, the limited and disjointed scope of legislative actions, and, especially, the poor monitoring and control show the need for deep changes in the work process of the Senate's technical committees and, therefore, of the Senate's technical support unit.
RESUMO. Após a promulgação do Sistema Nacional de Unidades de Conservação (Decreto nº 4.340/2002), tem sido criado em todo o Brasil Conselhos com a participação da Sociedade Civil. A região Sudeste de Mato Grosso do Sul abriga o Parque Estadual das Várzeas do Rio Ivinhema, unidade de Conservação de Proteção Integral e a Área de Proteção Ambiental da Bacia do Rio Iguatemi, unidade de conservação de uso sustentável que abrange nove municípios. O Parque possui um Conselho Gestor e a APA conta com os conselhos municipais, todos envolvidos com a administração das áreas. Este estudo analisou, utilizando questionários encaminhados aos 141 membros dos conselhos, o conhecimento, a percepção ambiental e o nível de participação dos Conselheiros. Também foram levantados dados sobre o perfil dos Conselheiros e sobre decisões dos conselhos que constaram em atas de reuniões. Como resultado, aponta-se o limitado conhecimento da legislação ambiental e a percepção generalizada de que a deficiência de fiscalização por parte do poder público é a responsável pela degradação ambiental em detrimento ao entendimento de uma ação conjunta, governo e sociedade, na construção de um processo participativo eficiente e eficaz. Apesar das deficiências, ganhos ambientais foram detectados nas decisões dos Conselhos. Palavras-chave: conselho de meio ambiente, gestão participativa, percepção ambiental, Mato Grosso do Sul. ABSTRACT: Society's participation in the management of conservation units and its effects on the improvement of environmental quality in the southeastern region of Mato Grosso do Sul State. Since the approval of Decree no. 4.340/2002 on the The National System of Conservation Units, several councils have been established with the participation of civil society throughout Brazil. The southeastern region of Mato Grosso do Sul comprises the "State Park of the River Ivinhema Margins" a total conservation and protection unit and an environmental protection area (EPA) of the Iguatemi river basin, a sustainable conservation unit comprising nine municipalities. The Park has a Management Council and EPA has municipal councils which are all involved in the areas management. Current research analyzed questionnaires forwarded to the 141 council members, coupled to information on the knowledge, environmental perception and level of the advisors participation. Data were also taken on the advisors profile and on their decisions recorded in minutes of meetings. Results show limited knowledge of environmental legislation and a general perception that deficient inspections undertaken by public agencies are responsible for environmental degradation. No possibility of a joint action between government and society has been taken into consideration for the establishment of a new efficient and efficacious participation process. Although deficiencies existed, environmental gains were detected in the Council's decisions.
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