PLANNING AND MANAGEMENT OF THE TERRITORY: SCALES, CONFLICTS AND UNCERTAINTIES

Abstract

This work addresses the issue of planning and management of the territory in smaller-sized Brazilian towns. It approaches issues such as the construction and transformation of the regional territory, grounded on the improvement of municipal areas, comparing the urban imaginary, territorial structures, legislation and planning under paradigms focused on the regulation of urban-environmental matters brought by Agenda 21, Habitat, Eco 92, and, by the City Statute mainly. The Region of the Regional Council of Production Development (Corede Produção/Condepro), which is consisted of 21 towns in the north of Rio Grande do Sul, is presented as a study case. Based on secondary data, surveys in the towns were developed, presenting results of their characteristics and planning processes. It was observed that many towns have tried to reach planning goals, aiming at urban sustainability and full development of social and community functions recommended in the City Statute in order to assure citizens the right to socially and environmentally fairer cities.