Engaging Communities in Environmental Remediation: A Polycentric Governance Approach to the Rio Doce Basin

The collapse of the Fundão dam, operated by Samarco, caused severe environmental damage to the Rio Doce basin in Brazil and led to the establishment of an institutional framework for remediation, including the Renova Foundation (FR) and the Interfederative Committee (CIF). Although these entities were designed to manage the environmental restoration, significant criticism arose due to the exclusion of key social actors, such as affected communities and social movements, from the decision-making process. In response, the Governance Termo de Ajustamento de Conduta (TAC) expanded participation by incorporating these groups, but questions remain about how this governance system functions regarding its effectiveness and socio-environmental justice. This paper examines the environmental remediation process in the Rio Doce basin through the lens of polycentric governance, focusing on the distribution of power (by design, pragmatic power, and framing power) and how it influences community mobilization and participation in the remediation efforts. This analysis contributes to the ongoing debate on environmental governance, highlighting the critical aspects of efficiency and justice in disaster response.