Full text
| |
| Author(s): |
Janice Rodrigues Placeres Borges
Total Authors: 1
|
| Document type: | Doctoral Thesis |
| Press: | São Carlos. |
| Institution: | Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Escola de Engenharia de São Carlos (EESC/SBD) |
| Defense date: | 2002-05-23 |
| Examining board members: |
Fazal Hussain Chaudhry;
Maria do Carmo Calijuri;
Nivaldo Nordi;
Nemésio Neves Batista Salvador;
Marcelo Pereira de Souza
|
| Advisor: | Fazal Hussain Chaudhry |
| Abstract | |
It is the purpose of this study to acertain the perceptions of the riparians and small cattle ranchers of the marshes of Pantanal Mato-grossense as regards the justice and fairness of water management policies, with special reference to the implementation of the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway. The conceptions of these groups about the fairness of water planning procedures, their acceptance of some of the philosophical aspects underlying the water resources management, the degree of their awareness about environmental ramifications and the level of social participation in the decision process, are considered to be of fundamental importance for a better comprehension of the perception of the said groups. To achieve an understanding of the perception of the social groups, a case study was made through the application of a questionnaire, interviews and photo-documentation. The results show that the degree of perception of justice of those interviewed is intimately associated with water use on individual as well as on community levels revealing aspects related to every day life and its quality. With reference to the degree of acceptance of the water management philosophy, it is observed that the riparians perceive water as a public good with great value for the community and that it should be preserved even at the cost of economic interests. They recognise the need for long-term planning and for the required legal framework. However, they show some pessimism as regards the effectiveness of such laws in view of their suspicions about the impartiality of the judicial system and its moroseness. As regards the awareness of riparian inhabitants of the waterway projects, the absence of such information is perceptible in all the areas and among both sexes, their age groups, occupation and education level with the exception of urban women. With respect to social participation, the riparians are averse to their involvement in the water resources decision process or any other kind of association, despite recognizing their responsability to wards the preservation of the Pantanal. (AU) | |