Barra do Garças is located in the southeast of Mato Grosso state. Its economy is based on agriculture and tourism, with emphasis on the production of soy, rice, corn and livestock. It is located in the Cerrado biome and it is considered a transition region in terms of its agricultural production; historically a livestock region, now the grains are also expanding over the degraded pastureland areas. The total area of the municipality is 907.900 ha, of which 361.083 ha is dedicated to agriculture production and 505.421ha of preserved native vegetation, of which 211.112ha are indigenous land and 11.000ha are located inside a State Park. 

IDH, together with TNC and local stakeholders, have conducted a process designed to build a sustainable development vision for the municipality of Barra do Garças. This process, which took place in the first half of 2019, had as its main stages the engagement of local stakeholders, the agreement on intentions regarding the priorities for the municipality of Barra do Garças, the set-up of goals, and the consolidation of the common vision for the municipality through the signing of the Memorandum of Understanding on June 2019.

In December of 2019, a municipal law was issued creating the Barra do Garças PCI Program and, in July of 2020 a municipal decree was issued creating the Barra do Garças PCI Municipal Committee which will have the mandate to coordinate the implementation of the local strategy.