Normative conflicts between Municipal Master Plans and the Management Plan of a protected area:

an analysis of the Itupararanga Environmental Protection Area

Authors

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.18055/Finis42541

Abstract

Territorial planning, or the absence thereof, reflects how land use and land cover (LULC) affect natural resources such as vegetation areas, water bodies, and biodiversity. As a means of protecting these resources, Environmental Protection Areas (EPAs) were established, a category of conservation unit (CU) aimed at protecting nature in harmony with human occupation. This study aims to analyze the normative conflicts between the Management Plan (MP) of the Itupararanga EPA in the state of São Paulo and the Municipal Master Plans (MMPs) within it, as well as their alignment with the existing LULC in these areas. For this purpose, vector files containing information from these normative instruments were overlaid to identify conflicts between these management tools. It was found that 63.9% (583.4km²) follow the MP macro-zoning, while 36.1% (329.9km²) show inconsistencies. In the analysis of LULC, 11.6% (38.3km²) of the area was found to be in conflict, highlighting the fragility between the plans and the lack of communication among management levels. The absence of coordination between management instruments demonstrates the need for effective revision and monitoring to protect water resources. The obsolescence of the MP is evident in light of the intensification of urbanization and agricultural expansion, as well as changes in the MMPs, revealing a paradox between environmental conservation and urban development.

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Author Biographies

Bianca Gonçalves, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Science and Technology, Sorocaba

Graduada em Tecnologia em Viticultura e Enologia e em Tecnologia em Gestão Ambiental pelo Instituto Federal de Educação, Ciência e Tecnologia de São Paulo (IFSP), campus São Roque.

Nícholas de Paula Nicomedes, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Science and Technology, Sorocaba

Mestrando em Ciências Ambientais pela Unesp Sorocaba e graduado em Engenharia Ambiental pela Universidade de Sorocaba (2023). Atuando na linha de pesquisa: Geoprocessamento e modelagem matemática ambiental.

Liliane Moreira Nery, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Science and Technology, Sorocaba

Graduada em Engenharia Ambiental pela Universidade de Sorocaba (2019), mestra em Biotecnologia e Monitoramento Ambiental pela Universidade Federal de São Carlos (2021) e doutora em Ciências Ambientais pela Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP) (2025).

Rafael Fabricio de Oliveira, Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of São Paulo (IFSP), São Roque Campus, Brazil.

Graduado e licenciado em Geografia pela Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), especialista em Cooperação Internacional para o Desenvolvimento pela Universidad Complutense de Madrid (UCM) e doutor em Geografia pela Universidade de Brasília (UnB).

Darllan Collins Cunha e Silva, São Paulo State University (UNESP), Institute of Science and Technology, Sorocaba

Possui graduação e mestrado em Engenharia Ambiental pela Universidade Federal de Ouro Preto (UFOP) (2007) e doutorado em Ciências Ambientais pela Universidade Estadual Paulista (UNESP), campus de Sorocaba (2016). 

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Published

2026-07-01

How to Cite

Gonçalves, B., de Paula Nicomedes, N., Moreira Nery, L., Fabricio de Oliveira, R., & Collins Cunha e Silva, D. (2026). Normative conflicts between Municipal Master Plans and the Management Plan of a protected area:: an analysis of the Itupararanga Environmental Protection Area. Finisterra, 61(131), e42541. https://doi.org/10.18055/Finis42541

Issue

Vol. 61 No. 131 (2026)

Section

Research Articles

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