Gérard, Margi, Tiago Iatesta and other team members travelled the length of seven pre-selected rivers in different areas of the country.The award-winning project Brasil das Águas used innovative technology installed in an amphibian aircraft to collect water samples in 2003/2004 from 1,160 sample locations scattered all over Brazil.
The analyses of these samples made it possible to compose a panorama of the quality of Brazil’s fresh water reserves, with the objective increasing awareness amongst the general population and actively involve them in the preservation of the country’s water resources.
Based on information gathered in the previous project and on fresh aerial images, the team not only collected new samples all along these rivers, but specifically focused on public presentations in the towns along the route to show local people what their river looks like, up and down stream. Hearing the views of those who inhabit the river banks made it easier to understand how each community relates to its river and thus determine the best way to mobilize them into taking protecting their resources.
Each of the seven campaigns identified the main risks threatening the selected rivers. Aspects such as irregular occupation of riverbanks, erosion, intensive use of fertilizers or weed-killers, land management, the state of the riverine forest, sewage treatment, discharge of effluents and proximity of garbage dumps were all catalogued. Just as importantly, there was a chance to identify new opportunities for sustainable development, such as the ecotourism potential – trekking, canoeing, rafting, bird-watching and sports fishing.
The information served as a basis for encouraging new conservation programmes with the participation of local authorities and NGOs, taking the social, economic and environmental situation of each specific region into account. With the exception of the Araguaia River, the team’s own personal choice, the other six rivers were selected by a panel of scientists and water resource experts at a workshop held in Brasilia.
The rivers were the Grande (in Bahia), Ribeira do Iguape (Paraná and São Paulo states), Ibicuí (Rio Grande do Sul), Miranda (Mato Grosso do Sul), Verde (Mato Grosso) and Guaporé (which forms the border with Bolivia in Mato Grosso and Rondonia) rivers.
To find out more about this community-orientated project, visit the site Sete Rios.
