International Waters learning Exchange & Resource Network

Integrated Management of Land-Based Activities in the Sao Francisco Basin - Results

GEF IDS: 586 , 3128

Ecosystem
River

Scale
National

Country
Brazil

Information sources
#586: IWC6 Results Note (2011), #3128: UNEP Terminal Evaluation (2005)

Key Basin Project Results
1. The project oversaw the organization and compilation of a data bank of references, information, and studies about the river basin that had been held in private institutions. The data bank initially contained 1400 items and will be continuously updated under the supervision of the Basin Committee.
2. Established the Committee of the São Francisco Basin through an election process stemming from 39 regional meetings, 27 state meetings, and 26 meetings with Indian communities. The Committee represents the interest of over 500 municipalities in 7 states which contain over 500 million people.
3. The project created an Environmental Quality Index, which incorporates sustainable environmental components together with physiochemical, biological, economic, social and cultural components. This led to the implementation of a Water Quality Monitoring System for the Sub-Middle Basin of the São Francisco. (#586, Sao Francisco River)

Results data
Conserved/protected wetland, MPAs, and fish refugia habitat
Year: N/A - Value: [see desc]
INDICATOR#1 (Impacts on Fish Migration in the Middle SFRB)
An analysis of the effects of the Xingo hydroelectric power plant reservoir on the composition and diversity of fish species revealed that most decreased fish production occurred downstream of the plant, fishing by local communities was no longer feasible, restoration of the fish stock was necessary, and demonstrated how fish production overall has decreased in the lower São Francisco. (#586, Sao Francisco River)
Aquifer pumping reduction
Year: N/A - Value: [see desc]
INDICATOR#3 (Impact of Agriculture on Groundwater in Rio Verde/Jacaré’s Basin)
Both surface and underground water sources were evaluated to test the impact of intensive agriculture on groundwater replenishment and quality, resulting in the successful management of water availability and irrigation needs in the Irece region by using a known “decision support system for agriculture (#586, Sao Francisco River)
Pollution reduction to aquifers
Year: N/A - Value: NA
INDICATOR#2 (Impact of mining on water resources in the Río das Velhas)
An important component of the project was identifying the impact of external forces on water resources, and the project therefore oversaw the completion of an integrated environmental diagnosis that identified the environmental interferences on water resources based on a 20-year analysis. Various recommendations included the definition of a hydro-geological model for the development of an integrated management plan for the aquifer system and, on a regional level, evaluation of the principal mining districts on water resources. (#586, Sao Francisco River)
Regional Management Institutions
Year: N/A - Value: YES
INDICATOR#1 (Revitalization of the São Francisco River Basin Committee)
The integrated and participative management of the Basin was one of the main goals of the project, and essential to this was the revitalization of the São Francisco River Basin Committee (CBH-SF). Under the National Policy on Water Resources (NPWR), this committee is now responsible for developing a systemof water rights and water charges.

INDICATOR#2 (Formulation of the Basin Management Program)
In order to address the main goal of the project, the TDA and SAP were both developed, which supported the preparation of an Integrated Managing Program for the basin including coastal zone management, fisheries management, navigation and water resource management, as well as including operational policies for large reservoirs. The project also provided the framework for the Brazilian Water Agency and was catalytic in helping the CBH-SF formulate its first comprehensive programme for the integrated, sustainable, and participative management of the basin and its environmental revitalization. Through directives of the Brazilian Water Law, the project helped formulate and establish effective structures, legal controls, and fiscal instruments to mitigate land and water practices that adversely affected the Basin and its coastal zone.
Transboundary Diagnostic Analysis: Agreement on transboundary priorities and root causes
Year: N/A - Value: YES
The DAB Diagnostic Analysis of the São Francisco River Basin and Coastal Zone was initiated in January 2000 and presented a causal chain of the problems and the specification of remedial actions.
The DAB preceded the PAE – the Strategic Action Program for Integrated Management of the Basin and Coastal Zone – and was presented in a published report (Brasil, 2003).
The DAB was prepared based on 28 sub-projects developed in the period referred to above. These projects were selected in the PDF-B phase of the project based on a number of seminars in different areas of the basin. The projects were organized into four components:
I. Environmental Assessment of the Basin and its Coastal Zone: Quantification of environmental issues identified in the preparatory phase; identification and quantification of the impacts of land-based activities and flow regulation in the São Francisco river; identification of the most likely changes of the river bed, fauna and changes observed; development of a quantitative basis for the determination of strategic action for multiple water use.
II. Public participation and of the stakeholders: Evaluation of land use; identification of the roles of individuals and institutions in the basin; development of a case study demonstrative of sustainable water use in irrigation; development of a capacity building program.
III. Development of the Structural organization: Development of the institutional capacity for the creation of the São Francisco Basin Committee.
IV. Formulation of the Strategic Action Programme for the Integrated Management of the Basin. Based on the results of the three other components develop the Strategic Action Programme for the Basin. (#3128, Sao Francisco River IWRM)
Development of Strategic Action Program (SAP)
Year: 2004 - Value: YES
The SAP was developed from July to November 2003. This programme was developed based on a strong public participation of about 12,000 participants and 404 institutions through 217 events such as workshops (Brasil, 2004).
The structure of the SAP is based on Strategic Actions and components. The two components are the following (Brasil, 2004):
I. Implementation of the integrated system of Water Resources Management of the Basin and Coastal Zone (SIGRH).
II. Sustainable use of water resources and environmental rehabilitation of the basin and its coastal zone (#3128, Sao Francisco River IWRM)