Bolsa Floresta (Forest Conservation Allowance): an innovative mechanism to promote health in traditional communities in the Amazon

Abstract

The program Bolsa Floresta [Forest Conservation Grant] implements a series of pioneering activities in the area of environmental conservation and sustainable development in the Amazon. Its conception is inserted in the context of global climate change and deforestation reduction, and a special emphasis is given to the traditional communities of the "Deep Amazon". This article describes the program's concept and strategies of implementation, highlighting its health related actions. First, the context in which the program was conceived is presented. Then, the concept, structure and results achieved until September 2008 are exposed, followed by a presentation of the diagnosis and of its public health related actions. Finally, the program's historical meaning and perspectives are discussed.