New River Basin Management Plan for Sao Francisco river, Brazil
Nemus won the international tender to update the River Basin Management Plan (RBMP) for the Sao Francisco river (Brazil). This river is almost 3.000 km long and is one of the most important rivers in Brazil and also in South America. Extending over an area larger than 600.000 km² (7,5% of Brazil), this river flows through 504 municipalities and seven Federal Units (Bahia, Minas Gerais, Pernambuco, Alagoas, Sergipe, Goiás and Distrito Federal).
The existing management plan of the Sao Francisco covers 10 years (2004-2013). This new plan will contain updated data and new action plans, considering several different matters: existing and predicted water needs in what concerns quality and quantity, conflict management between demanding sectors and communities and also plans to deal with extreme situations and risk (drought, floods amongst others).
The official kick start of this project hired by AGB Peixe Vivo happened in 20 and 21 November, in Maceió, when Nemus participated in the 26th ordinary plenary session of the Sao Francisco river basin Committee. The technical team is therefore back to the theme of water management, ready to start its 5th RBMP since 2009.
Despite the extensive experience in RBMP and water management, Nemus’ most recent project in Brazil comes with new challenges: not only is the territorial extension being assessed large (an area equivalent to six times the size of Portugal), but also the public participation process throughout 18 months is going to be of the outmost relevance. In fact, Nemus will organize 24 public consultations (for groups of 100 people) and 19 thematic workshops about many different issues: from sanitation to indigenous peoples, and also fishing, industry and many others.