The process of decentralization and democratization of environmental management faces challenges such as ensuring people's participation in the conduct of public policy environment. One of the main local mechanisms of popular participation in the conduct of environmental issues is the Environmental City Council. Despite the recent quantitative growth of these councils in Brazil, many authors question whether this body ensures effective participation in society on local environmental policy. This article seeks to contribute to a better understanding of the effectiveness of municipal environmental councils to investigate the degree and quality of participation of the population in Environmental Councils five municipalities of the Middle Piracicaba / MG. This is a qualitative research using multiple case studies. The results show that it is still low degree of popular participation in the councils and, when that occurs, occurs mainly to meet individual interests.
Environmental management municipal; Municipal Councils Environment; Environmental policy participation
