Capacitação social como estratégia para restauração de rios: gestão adaptativa e sustentável.

Abstract

The social capacity as a strategy for adaptive and sustainable management for rivers restoration is discussed in this thesis. It is emphasized the need for reconciling the strengthening of the economy concurrent with the restoration of good conditions of river ecosystems. The goals are related to the search for expanding the knowledge, of the socioeconomic, cultural, technical and institutional capacity dimensions, which are the components of the social capacity that influence in obtaining positive results in the long term. The method of case study was used, as it is more appropriate to the operational links that were established over time, rather than being treated as just repetitions or incidences. The study was delimited to analyze the Upper and Medium Gramame River at the municipality of Pedras de Fogo, in Paraíba State, with an analytical unit that is the social capacity, beginning from the simplest geographical area, the hydrographic sub-basin, and its political-administrative relationship, to a more complex reality that involves the national and state structures. The themes and dimensions of social capacity, used in the methodology in this research, highlight the interrelations of social actors found in government institutions, in rural properties and the non-governmental organizations interested in achieving goals in common, in the management of riparian areas. The application of this methodology helped identify the explanations of the difficulties and opportunities faced by social actors involved in this process. This research filled the theoretical gap in the water resources management, since this subject had not been found in the national literature linked to the management processes of river restoration. It was concluded that there were various reasons of institutional barriers and society in general to the establishment of a patrimonial management negotiated in the long term. Deficiencies in capacity of individuals, groups and institutions cause chaos in the conduction of collective actions related to the common interest, such as the rivers restoration, involving natural resources of public and private character. It was demonstrated the urgent necessity, to promote a broad debate based on the legitimacy of social interest, in creating a national policy for rivers restoration, to reestablish and maintain the good conditions of the water as a patrimony for the current and future generations.