Análise de conflitos na alocação de água em bacias interestaduais.

Abstract

Numerous transboundary basins around the world have experienced high competition on water use and allocation, either locally, nationally or internationally. In this context, water resources managers have conducted negotiations among the involved participants to avoid or minimize conflicts on water allocation. Towards this end, conflict analysis and resolution techniques can be very important tools. There are many Brazilian hydrographic basins which are shared by two or more states. One example is the Piranhas-Acu river basin, which is shared by the States of Paraiba and Rio Grande do Norte. These states disagree about the discharge value that Paraiba, located upstream, should maintain in the river on the boundary of both states. A negotiation process on this conflict was conducted during 2004, finally reaching a consensus. This research simulates that negotiation process, applying the Graph Model for Conflict Resolution - GMCR. The outcomes showed solutions which are similar to those observed in the actual process. The study also evaluated the National Water Agency (ANA) and National Drought Department (DNOCS) roles during the conflict. The conflict was satisfactorily modelled by GMCR, which can be actually used to help the decision makers during the negotiation process.