IVIG/UFRJ is preparing a revision of the Bonito Master Plan, with proposals for the municipality's development until 2036.

The process conducted by the Institute involved seminars, nine public hearings, 152 meetings, 186 technical visits, interviews, research, and the preparation of 20 technical reports, in addition to the Final Diagnosis, Urban Planning Proposals and Guidelines, and the drafting of the Complementary Law.

The revision of the Bonito (MS) Master Plan has reached a new stage after a broad technical and participatory process conducted by the International Virtual Institute for Global Change (IVIG/UFRJ). However, prior to the submission of the revised proposal, there was a long period of work, research, and many other activities related to understanding the territory: seminars, nine public hearings, 152 meetings, and 186 technical visits were held, in addition to the preparation and presentation of 20 technical reports that supported the different stages of the work. At the same time, the Master Plan Management Committee was created and officially established, with representatives from state and municipal public bodies, civil society, unions, and other representative institutions, guaranteeing the participation of the entire population in decisions about the city's future.

State and municipal authorities, including the Mayor and Deputy Mayor of Bonito, mayors of neighboring municipalities, state and municipal secretaries, and state legislators, participate in the seminar launching the Bonito Master Plan on March 22, 2025.

The official delivery of the studies, diagnoses, and proposals included the participation of Professor Fábio Bitencourt, coordinator of the revision of the Bonito Master Plan by IVIG/UFRJ, accompanied by urban planners and professors Isabel Muzi and Marlise de Aguiar, from the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro. Also participating in the meeting were Ana Trevellin, Executive Secretary of the Environment of Mato Grosso do Sul, representing the State Government, and the mayor of Bonito, Josmail Rodrigues, accompanied by municipal secretaries and the City Hall's technical team.

Prof. Fábio Bittencourt, coordinator of the Bonito Master Plan review at IVIG/UFRJ (center), during the presentation of the studies and diagnostics to Mayor Josmail Rodrigues. Also attending the meeting were Profs. Isabel Muzy and Marlise de Aguiar (UFRJ) and Ana Trevellin, Executive Secretary for the Environment of Mato Grosso do Sul.

The process brought together information and contributions from different sectors of society and the public sector, allowing for an integrated understanding of the municipality's characteristics, needs, challenges, and potential.

The methodology adopted combined data collection, technical analyses, field activities, meetings with managers, public hearings, and was structured around thematic chambers. The revision document itself highlights that technical and community contributions were used in the construction of the integrated diagnosis and in the formulation of guidelines, strategies, and proposals. Based on this set of information, IVIG/UFRJ coordinated the preparation of the studies and proposals that structure the revision of the Bonito Master Plan for the period 2026 to 2036.

A technical and participatory process.

The work developed by IVIG/UFRJ involved a multidisciplinary team, including professionals from different areas of knowledge. Among those responsible for the work are the coordinator of IVIG/UFRJ, geographer Prof. Dr. Marcos Freitas, and the architect and urban planner Fábio Bitencourt, coordinator of the revision of the Bonito Master Plan.

Professor Marcos Freitas and the Master Plan technical team in a meeting at IVIG/UFRJ. Photo: IVIG Communication.

The proposals were developed based on gathering information about the physical, socioeconomic, environmental, institutional, and regulatory aspects of the municipality. This work was complemented by technical field visits, meetings with municipal and state managers, public hearings, and specific meetings on thematic issues, allowing for the integration of the technical analysis of the entire territory with direct contributions from the community.

Technical visit to the Municipal Balneary of Bonito/MS - Photo: IVIG Communication

The 20 technical reports produced throughout the process addressed different aspects of the municipality. These included the results of public hearings and thematic chambers, the organization of planning bases using Geographic Information Systems (GIS), legal and urban planning instruments and tools, urban and environmental documentation, assessment of hydrological resources, research and characterization of karst soils typical of the region, demands and needs related to basic sanitation—all this based on the historical development of Bonito and the entire region of Mato Grosso do Sul.

The result is a set of guidelines, strategies, and structuring proposals to guide territorial planning and municipal public policies over the coming years, as determined by the Brazilian Federal Constitution and the City Statute, which govern the physical, economic, and social planning of Brazilian municipalities.

Integrated planning, environment and sustainable development

The Bonito Master Plan 2026–2036 proposes an integrated vision for the future of the municipality, considering the relationship between urban development, environmental protection, socio-territorial inclusion, economic activity, and quality of life.

Among the main themes presented are environmental sustainability, land use and occupation, active mobility, the appreciation of cultural references, urban planning parameters, governance, and the implementation of proposed public policies.

The proposals also include the conservation of natural resources, the orderly expansion of urban areas, the improvement of infrastructure, the strengthening of sustainable tourism, and the integration of different public policies based on contemporary concepts of city planning.

One of the structuring concepts presented in the review is that of the Park City, which stands out as one of the most relevant proposals for urban improvement in the Brazilian context, as it integrates natural heritage, sustainable tourism, and urban planning into a single structuring project.

The proposal includes initiatives related to the creation and structuring of green areas, parks, and public spaces, seeking to expand the integration between natural and urban environments.

Urban landscape - Praça da Liberdade in the central area of the city - Photo: IVIG Communication

Among the strategies presented is the creation of the Rota Boiadeira Municipal Park, with the aim of preserving and enhancing environmental, historical and cultural aspects, as well as contributing to the orderly urban expansion and the protection of the interface between urban and rural areas.

All proposals are articulated under the cross-cutting concept of a Solidarity City, which aims to make the municipality of Bonito grounded in the principles of social justice and equity, inclusion and universal accessibility, environmental sustainability and intergenerational solidarity, citizen participation and democratic management, as well as the promotion of the local and community economy.

New urban parks for the city of Bonito: Rota Boiadeira Park and Linear Parks (Bonito, Restinga, and Saladeiro). In addition, the creation of six Access Portals as markers of the urban connection with the natural landscape.

Actions related to management and social participation are also planned, including the possibility of a management council and the incorporation of demands presented in public hearings into the park's planning.

The protection of water resources appears as one of the strategic components of the revision of the Master Plan, considering the existence of several urban streams with crystal-clear water that represent one of the main environmental assets of the municipality.

The proposals include mechanisms for the conservation and recovery of environmentally relevant areas, as well as strategies aimed at protecting water resources and integrating territorial planning and environmental conservation.

The proposed Master Plan suggests adopting nature-based solutions in areas of urban expansion and protection, combining territorial planning, sanitation, and care for the natural environment. Among the guidelines is the compatibility of tourism development with the limits of environmental conditions and existing infrastructure.

Territorial planning, tourism and municipal management

The review also presents proposals to reorganize the use and occupation of urban land, update zoning, and structure different areas of the municipality according to their characteristics and potential.

Planning of the eleven new neighborhoods in the Urban Macrozone of Bonito

Among the proposals are the revision and updating of urban zoning, the delimitation and naming of neighborhoods in the urban center of Bonito, the territorial structuring of the Águas do Miranda District, the planning of expansion areas, and urban land regularization.

Evaluation and occupation studies of urban roads

Land regularization is presented as an instrument to promote legal security, social inclusion, access to infrastructure, and territorial integration, while respecting legal, environmental, and technical limitations.

The planning of expansion areas also considers the need to avoid uncontrolled settlements and to ensure urban control integrated with infrastructure compatible with the capacity and characteristics of the territory.

Due to its environmental and touristic characteristics, Bonito presents specific demands and limitations in territorial planning. The revision of the Master Plan seeks to consider and respect this vocation in defining the new guidelines for the municipality.

In the Águas do Miranda District, for example, the document proposes organizing the territory as a sustainable tourist hub , linking urban expansion with tourism and establishing parameters to avoid uncontrolled development and protect environmentally sensitive areas. The proposal thus seeks to reconcile tourism with the conservation of natural resources and available infrastructure.

Another aspect foreseen in the review is the strengthening of the municipality's planning and management capacity. Among the strategies presented are the implementation of a Geographic Information System (GIS) platform with an integrated georeferenced database, the development of urban and environmental indicators, the training of municipal teams in geotechnologies and urban planning, and the use of digital technologies, remote sensing, and multi-purpose cadastral mapping for data collection and updating.

The proposal also includes protocols for monitoring and periodic review of the Master Plan, helping to ensure that territorial planning can keep pace with the municipality's transformations over time.

Next step: review and approval by the municipal legislature.

With the completion of the technical studies and the formulation of guidelines and proposals, the process of revising the Master Plan moves on to its legislative phase.

The proposed revision will be submitted to the Bonito City Council , where it will be reviewed by the council members and will follow the established procedures for its processing.

The revision must be formalized through a Complementary Law , an instrument by which the municipality can establish the Master Plan and its guidelines for the period from 2026 to 2036. However, approval depends on the processing and deliberation of the Bonito municipal Legislative branch.

President of the Bonito City Council, Councilman PH, and the IVIG-UFRJ technical team

Thus, the studies and proposals prepared by IVIG/UFRJ constitute the technical basis for the continuation of the process, with the subsequent stages of analysis, discussion, deliberation, and corresponding implementation falling to the competent municipal authorities.

More than just establishing rules for urban development, the revision of the Master Plan proposes a vision for the future of Bonito, articulating economic development, environmental protection, socio-territorial inclusion, and strengthening the capacity of municipal management.

The document begins with an integrated diagnosis to identify the challenges and potential of the territory and, based on these, establish strategic guidelines for the short, medium, and long term. The proposals bring together regulatory instruments, management mechanisms, and structuring actions aimed at implementing the guidelines planned for the period from 2026 to 2036.

The completion of the technical phase thus represents another step forward in the process of revising the Bonito Master Plan, which will now be submitted to the municipal Legislative Branch for consideration.

The participation of IVIG/UFRJ in this process reinforces the Institute's role in the production and application of technical and scientific knowledge focused on territorial planning of cities, sustainability, and the construction of integrated solutions for Brazil's urban and environmental challenges.

Communication - IVIG/UFRJ