Do command and control instruments for nature conservation on private property always fail?

Abstract Command and control instruments for the conservation of nature on private property are widely considered to be costly and inefficient at achieving significant conservation. In the city of Bonito (MS), an initiative called “Projeto Formoso Vivo”, aimed at the protection of native vegetation, sought to promote rural techniques that significantly aid the protection and restoration of Permanent Preservation Areas and Legal Reserves in Brazil. The aim of this article is to analyze the reach of this project from landholders’ perspective, focusing on the adequacy of rural properties to the current legal-environmental regime for native vegetation protection. Qualitative analysis was conducted through a series of interviews to gauge respondent’s perceptions of the “Projeto Formoso Vivo” initiative. Results show that all respondents recognized the importance of the project and consider it possible to reconcile the economic value of private properties with the requirements of areas destined for conservation.