River Basin OrganizationsStudy case from Brazil
Vitor Vieira Vasconcelos, Ph.D.Ayeyarwady Futures Team
Stockholm Environment Institute
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Stakeholder Consultation Meeting on Chindwin Futures AssessmentMonywa, 4th May 2015
CONTENT1. Water management regulation in Brazil
2. Case studies of RBOs in Brazil
3. History of the RBOs
4. Structure and Members
5. Government levels responsibility for RBOs
6. Institutional scheme
7. Roles of the RBO
8. Funding scheme
9. Some lessons learnt
Water Management Regulation in Brazil
Water Law approved in 1997Structure of River Basin Organizations
Challenges in 1997:Little financial and human resourcesPopulation and institutions were not used to participatory governance, such as the water councils and RBO committees proposed in the new water lawStarting a cycle of fast development from 2001 to 2010, increasing pressure on water resources
Myanmar may face similar challenges and experiences that Brazil faced in the development cycle
0.00
5,000.00
10,000.00
15,000.00
1997
1999
2001
2003
2005
2007
2009
2011
2013
Per Capita GDP - BrazilUSD
Source: World Bank Database
Case studies of RBOs in Brazil
ParacatuRBO
Verde Grande RBO
Water Commission of Minas GeraisState Parliament from 2013-2014
Assessment of achievements and challenges of the 36 RBO in the state
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History of the RBOs
Paracatu RBO Verde Grande RBO
Establishment 1998 2003
Master Plans approved in 2006 2010
Water Quality StandardsProposed in 2006
(awaitingapproval of Water Council)
Proposed in 2010(awaiting approval of
Water Council)
Charge for Water Use Implementing In discussion
Water Agencies under RBOs
Articulated with So Francisco Basin
Articulated with So Francisco Basin
Sources:ANA. EnquadramentoBases Legais. Available at: http://portalpnqa.ana.gov.br/enquadramento-bases-legais.aspx, accessed on 16 Apr 2015ANA (2014). Cobranapelousode recursoshdricosno Brasil. Informe2013. Available at: http://arquivos.ana.gov.br/institucional/sag/CobrancaUso/Estudos/Informativo2013_CobrancapeloUsodeRecursosHidricosnoBrasil.pdfALMG (2014). RelatrioFinal da Comissodas guas. Available at: http://www.cbhdoce.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Veja-aqui-o-relat%C3%B3rio.pdfCBH Paracatuwebsite. Available at: http://agbpeixevivo.org.br/index.php/comites/cbhs-estaduais/cbh-rio-paracatu.html, accessed on 16 Apr 2015 CBH Verde Grande websites . Available at: http://www.verdegrande.cbh.gov.br/, accessed on 16 Apr 2015IGAM (2015) 2o relatriode gestoe situaodos recursoshdricosem Minas Gerais. Available at: portalinfohidro.igam.mg.gov.br/publicacoes-tecnicas/relatorios-de-gestao/8837-/downloadINFOHIDRO website. Availabeat: http://portalinfohidro.igam.mg.gov.br/publicacoes-tecnicas/enquadramento/, accessed on 16 Apr 2015
http://portalpnqa.ana.gov.br/enquadramento-bases-legais.aspxhttp://arquivos.ana.gov.br/institucional/sag/CobrancaUso/Estudos/Informativo2013_CobrancapeloUsodeRecursosHidricosnoBrasil.pdfhttp://www.cbhdoce.org.br/wp-content/uploads/2015/03/Veja-aqui-o-relat%C3%B3rio.pdfhttp://agbpeixevivo.org.br/index.php/comites/cbhs-estaduais/cbh-rio-paracatu.htmlhttp://www.verdegrande.cbh.gov.br/http://portalinfohidro.igam.mg.gov.br/publicacoes-tecnicas/enquadramento/Underlying Principle of Parity in member composition
Example:
Structure and Members
Members of Verde Grande RBO
Water Users
Civil society
Government InstitutionsNational governmentStateMunicipality
Equally divided among
Then equally divided among
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Internal elections for members and direction rolesEnables rotation and renovation
Internal structure with sub-committees and working groups
Ex: Water management institutionsAgriculture development institutionsEnvironmental institutions
Ex: Irrigated farmers associationsHydropower companiesWater supply institutions
Ex: Local NGOSCommunity associations
State A
State B
Ocean
Responsibility of State B
Responsibility of National Government
Inter-state sub-basin:National government can establish RBO
Intra-state sub-basin:State A can assume responsibility
Government levels responsibilityfor RBOs
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National Level
Water Use PermitsNational Information SystemSurveillance
RegulationsApproves propositions from RBOs
Propositions to Water Council
Non-government natureA member of each RBO
Experience sharingConsultative role
National Water Council
RBO RBO RBO
NationalWater Agency
RBO Forum
WaterAgency
WaterAgency
WaterAgency
Technical body to be implemented afterWater Use Charge starts in the basin
Gradually assume the roles of the National Water Agency
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Institutional Scheme
National Level State Level
RBO Forum
WaterAgency
WaterAgency
WaterAgency
National Water Council
RBO RBO RBO
NationalWater Agency
RBO
Forum
WaterAgency
WaterAgency
WaterAgency
State Water Council
RBO RBO RBO
StateWater Agency
Roles of the RBO
Progressive roles of an RBO
1st - Water Basin Plan
2nd - Water Quality Standards
3rd - Rules for charging water use
4th - Establishment of Water Agency in the basin
On demand roles
1st instance for water conflict resolution
Water use permit for big users
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(in Minas GeraisState)
Funding SchemeTax on hydropower profit
Rationale: compensation for impacts of hydropower reservoirs
Main fund source for water management policy in the country
Part of the tax is source for the Water Fund in Minas GeraisStateEnvironmental projects in river basins
Administrative costs of RBOs, mainlyTransportation for meetings
Administrative staff
Charge for Water Use
Gradually implemented in some basins
All money collected must be invested in the same basinProjects, studies and infrastructure according to criteria proposed by RBO and approved by the Water Council
Technical and administrative maintenance of RBO and Water Agency
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Some lessons learntThe RBO always need to have some important task to be done
People need to see that their participation is useful
Government reliability with public budget is crucial to maintain the credibility of people in the RBOs
Misuse of money to be invested in basins
Delay or cancellation of promised investments
RBO role is not only for water policy planning:
supervise investments by government institutions
mobilize society
Industries pressure on Water Council made it difficult to approve Water Quality Standards proposed by RBOs
It is difficult to recover credibility
after it is lost
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Contact:
Chayanis KRITTASUDTHACHEEWA, Ph.D.(Ms)[email protected]
Louis LEBEL, [email protected]
Eric KEMP-BENEDICT, [email protected]
Bernadette (Babette) RESURRECCIN, [email protected]
Chusit APIRUMANEKUL, [email protected]
Vitor Vieira VASCONCELOS, [email protected]
Website: http://sei-international.org/
Thanks to the Blue Moon Fund, DWIR, MEI and
all stakeholders and partners in Myanmar
Contact in Myanmar
Program Coordinator:
Ms. Cho Cho Win, MB: 95-9428128900,[email protected]
http://sei-international.org/mailto:[email protected]