Environmental awareness as a support tool in the management and formulation of environmental public policies

Abstract

This article is part of the studies on public policies and municipal environmental management. It aims to discuss how the use of environmental perception may be relevant to municipal environmental management. The case study chosen to lead this discussion was the Distrito de Paranapiacaba e Parque Andreense, Municipality of Santo André-SP. The methodology involved the application of qualitative and quantitative survey among the local population, seeking to gather their perception about the environment and local environmental management tools. Results indicate that the use of the community perception can be a tool for supporting environmental management, and facilitate a participatory process leading to a shared management between government and society.