Appropriation of Disaster Risk Reduction in Brazil …
5
specific policies, having in mind the implementation of sustainable development (translated
by the authors).
In this context, urban planning is understood as a set of multidisciplinary actions
aiming a goal, considering the amount of available resources and external factors as,
for example: quality of involved stakeholders, definition of objectives and the context
to achieve them (Duarte 2007). Besides this, Ultramari (2009 p. 178), defines the
urban planning framework as: activities related to survey, several sectoral plans,
regulation and control of land use and related activities as basic services (education,
health care and security) and basic infrastructures (sanitation and sewage, street
maintenance and transportation).
Thus, urban planning of cities is related to a plan with goals and expectations for a
further moment. Public administration is responsible for this process, implementing
and managing city plans actions (Ultramari 2009).
An example of urban planning and management is the municipal General Plan,
a pillar of urban planning in Brazilian cities. According to Duarte (2007), the
General Plan is one of the main tools proposed by the Statute of City (Law number
10.257/2010), due to the fact it gives an extensive responsibility to local scale actions.
It is highlighted that both the NPCDP and Statute of City are urban policies regulated by national scale laws, but focus on city responsibilities. Municipal administrations have the duty to implement these guidelines. The structure of Civil Defense
in the country is driven by the Regional Development Ministry, by the Secretary of
Protection and Civil Defense, followed by state and city level entities.
The application of urban policies in the spatial formation and city transformation
are relevant to spatial processes. The appropriation of Civil Defense guidelines and
regulations by the municipal administration are fundamental for the management
of adversities related to natural disasters (Pinheiro 2011). As a result, together with
the Municipal General Plan, the law number 12.608/2012 (that regulates NPCDP)
can both contribute to improve urban development. This could happen not only
considering regulation of spatial planning issues, but also the management of disaster
risk prevention actions.
According to Rolnik (1997), urban regulation—or the set of urbanistic laws,
decrees and norms—is a common action in space, which is capable of configuring and
classifying the territory and also give a meaning to it. Urban regulation is also responsible to connect the population to their urban environment. Because space formation
is related to legal instruments of planning, it is understood that the General Plans
in cities, as land use, occupation legislation and Law no. 12.608/2012, are able to
shape urban dynamics. Thus, in order to have a change in the disasters prevention in
the country, it is necessary to apply guidelines created by the Civil Defense Coordinations and change the cultural resistance to transform the cumulative cycle of
vulnerable urban spaces.
The modifications caused by Law no. 12.608/2012 were carried out by the City
Statute (adding Articles 42-A
1 and 42-B) that regulate General Plans. The added
1 Art. 42-A. In addition to the content provided by Art. 42, the General Plan of the Municipalities
included in the national register of municipalities with areas susceptible to major impact landslides,
5
specific policies, having in mind the implementation of sustainable development (translated
by the authors).
In this context, urban planning is understood as a set of multidisciplinary actions
aiming a goal, considering the amount of available resources and external factors as,
for example: quality of involved stakeholders, definition of objectives and the context
to achieve them (Duarte 2007). Besides this, Ultramari (2009 p. 178), defines the
urban planning framework as: activities related to survey, several sectoral plans,
regulation and control of land use and related activities as basic services (education,
health care and security) and basic infrastructures (sanitation and sewage, street
maintenance and transportation).
Thus, urban planning of cities is related to a plan with goals and expectations for a
further moment. Public administration is responsible for this process, implementing
and managing city plans actions (Ultramari 2009).
An example of urban planning and management is the municipal General Plan,
a pillar of urban planning in Brazilian cities. According to Duarte (2007), the
General Plan is one of the main tools proposed by the Statute of City (Law number
10.257/2010), due to the fact it gives an extensive responsibility to local scale actions.
It is highlighted that both the NPCDP and Statute of City are urban policies regulated by national scale laws, but focus on city responsibilities. Municipal administrations have the duty to implement these guidelines. The structure of Civil Defense
in the country is driven by the Regional Development Ministry, by the Secretary of
Protection and Civil Defense, followed by state and city level entities.
The application of urban policies in the spatial formation and city transformation
are relevant to spatial processes. The appropriation of Civil Defense guidelines and
regulations by the municipal administration are fundamental for the management
of adversities related to natural disasters (Pinheiro 2011). As a result, together with
the Municipal General Plan, the law number 12.608/2012 (that regulates NPCDP)
can both contribute to improve urban development. This could happen not only
considering regulation of spatial planning issues, but also the management of disaster
risk prevention actions.
According to Rolnik (1997), urban regulation—or the set of urbanistic laws,
decrees and norms—is a common action in space, which is capable of configuring and
classifying the territory and also give a meaning to it. Urban regulation is also responsible to connect the population to their urban environment. Because space formation
is related to legal instruments of planning, it is understood that the General Plans
in cities, as land use, occupation legislation and Law no. 12.608/2012, are able to
shape urban dynamics. Thus, in order to have a change in the disasters prevention in
the country, it is necessary to apply guidelines created by the Civil Defense Coordinations and change the cultural resistance to transform the cumulative cycle of
vulnerable urban spaces.
The modifications caused by Law no. 12.608/2012 were carried out by the City
Statute (adding Articles 42-A
1 and 42-B) that regulate General Plans. The added
1 Art. 42-A. In addition to the content provided by Art. 42, the General Plan of the Municipalities
included in the national register of municipalities with areas susceptible to major impact landslides,