486
D. S. Barcellos et al.
5 Challenges and Prospects for the Belém River Basin
The studies already carried out on the Belém river basin reveal that the contributions
of governance to its revitalization can be divided into two groups: perspectives and
challenges. Both are still objectives and needs to be achieved. But while perspectives
can be glimpsed because they have the means to reach them, the challenges are
more difficult because they do not have a clear path for their realization. Therefore,
the perspectives will first be discussed and then the challenges identified in the
governance of the Belém River Basin case.
The two main agents of contamination of the waters of the Belém river basin are
domestic sewage and solid waste (Bollmann and Edwiges 2008). Regarding solid
waste, Garcias et al. (2014) emphasize the importance of “informal garbage”—those
found in unusual places that do not receive much emphasis, such as cigarette butts,
dust, wood, chalk and other organic materials. This type of solid waste pollution
is an important aspect of diffuse pollution carried by drainage systems that directly
interferes with the quality of the waters of the Belém river basin. However, in the case
of solid waste contamination in the garbage that lives near the banks of the river is
one of the main causes. Garbage collectors have an important social function for the
city of Curitiba since they are responsible for collecting about 92% of the recyclable
waste. Still, they sort the garbage by leaving the materials that have no value to them
on the river banks, or even throwing them into the watercourse itself. In addition
to water contamination, these residues are related to water-borne diseases, floods,
silting, etc. (Garcias et al. 2014).
This environmental problem, according to Garcias et al. (2014), has interface
with a social problem suffered by this category, which is disorganized, devalued and
socially segregated. Thus, greater support for waste pickers, improvements in their
living conditions and a more cohesive category are alternatives to considerably reduce
the amount of waste dumped in the river and increase recycling. Garcias et al. (2014),
suggests the creation of a cooperative or association for garbage collectors who, in
addition to optimizing and organizing their work, can facilitate social assistance to
this class. Therefore, this is an important perspective capable of improving the social
condition of this category and mitigating the contribution of waste in the Belém
river basin. Yet, this problem is specific to low-income urban settlements and, in
addition, the Belém basin suffers from widespread governance problems, with a
basin committee not very active, although the population shows an interest in the
revitalization of the basin.
In the context of the Belém river, where there is a popular interest in the participation of actions to improve river quality, the study by Procopiuck and Rosa
(2015) shows that about 80% of the population living in the area would be willing
to participate in these actions, which are currently still insufficient. Endorsing this
observation, Carvalho (2007) found something similar in this context, noting also
the absence of channels capable of developing a dialogue and involving the population in the improvement of the basin. In this sense, Hojda et al. (2015) noted the
inefficiency of the Alto Iguaçu and Upper Ribeira Basin Committee (COALIAR),
D. S. Barcellos et al.
5 Challenges and Prospects for the Belém River Basin
The studies already carried out on the Belém river basin reveal that the contributions
of governance to its revitalization can be divided into two groups: perspectives and
challenges. Both are still objectives and needs to be achieved. But while perspectives
can be glimpsed because they have the means to reach them, the challenges are
more difficult because they do not have a clear path for their realization. Therefore,
the perspectives will first be discussed and then the challenges identified in the
governance of the Belém River Basin case.
The two main agents of contamination of the waters of the Belém river basin are
domestic sewage and solid waste (Bollmann and Edwiges 2008). Regarding solid
waste, Garcias et al. (2014) emphasize the importance of “informal garbage”—those
found in unusual places that do not receive much emphasis, such as cigarette butts,
dust, wood, chalk and other organic materials. This type of solid waste pollution
is an important aspect of diffuse pollution carried by drainage systems that directly
interferes with the quality of the waters of the Belém river basin. However, in the case
of solid waste contamination in the garbage that lives near the banks of the river is
one of the main causes. Garbage collectors have an important social function for the
city of Curitiba since they are responsible for collecting about 92% of the recyclable
waste. Still, they sort the garbage by leaving the materials that have no value to them
on the river banks, or even throwing them into the watercourse itself. In addition
to water contamination, these residues are related to water-borne diseases, floods,
silting, etc. (Garcias et al. 2014).
This environmental problem, according to Garcias et al. (2014), has interface
with a social problem suffered by this category, which is disorganized, devalued and
socially segregated. Thus, greater support for waste pickers, improvements in their
living conditions and a more cohesive category are alternatives to considerably reduce
the amount of waste dumped in the river and increase recycling. Garcias et al. (2014),
suggests the creation of a cooperative or association for garbage collectors who, in
addition to optimizing and organizing their work, can facilitate social assistance to
this class. Therefore, this is an important perspective capable of improving the social
condition of this category and mitigating the contribution of waste in the Belém
river basin. Yet, this problem is specific to low-income urban settlements and, in
addition, the Belém basin suffers from widespread governance problems, with a
basin committee not very active, although the population shows an interest in the
revitalization of the basin.
In the context of the Belém river, where there is a popular interest in the participation of actions to improve river quality, the study by Procopiuck and Rosa
(2015) shows that about 80% of the population living in the area would be willing
to participate in these actions, which are currently still insufficient. Endorsing this
observation, Carvalho (2007) found something similar in this context, noting also
the absence of channels capable of developing a dialogue and involving the population in the improvement of the basin. In this sense, Hojda et al. (2015) noted the
inefficiency of the Alto Iguaçu and Upper Ribeira Basin Committee (COALIAR),