The environmental licensing of forest management plans in Caatinga ensures their sustainability?

We intend to identify the sustainability dimensions that can be evaluated in forest management plans (FMP) of natural vegetation of Caatinga and to describe which of those are best considered in licensed and active plans. The guidelines recommended by the environmental agency was analyzed in a sample of 40 FMP licensed in Pernambuco, Brazil, observing the attendance to the proposed items. The technical dimension, with description of quantitative aspects of the timber production is the best described, although it has only achieved 23% according to the requirements. Social aspects are not contemplated in the plans and criteria of the environmental and economic dimensions are poorly observed. The normative requirements for the elaboration of a FMP of natural vegetation of Caatinga do not offer elements to evaluate the sustainability and the plans show low level of attendance to the requirements.