Campaign attempts to save longest entirely Brazilian river
Popularly known as Velho Chico (or “Old Frankie,” the São Francisco is the longest river entirely located in Brazil
The São Francisco Watershed Committee launched on Tuesday (Jun 3) a campaign aimed at protecting the São Francisco, one of Brazil’s most important watercourses. The initiative engages the population from several cities and towns along its borders.
Popularly known as Velho Chico (or “Old Frankie,” in a rough English translation), the São Francisco is the longest river entirely located in Brazil, and flows through five states: Minas Gerais, Bahia, Pernambuco, Alagoas and Sergipe. Also referred to as the river of national integration, the São Francisco has most of its 2,800-km extension in semi-arid areas.
On the river’s national protection day, the committee attempted to warn authorities about the importance of revitalizing the river. “[It’s] an urgent campaign, [launched] at a time of year when major climate changes are taking place, and we have to expand, intensify and better organize the management of water resources,” explained Anivaldo Miranda, head of the committee.
Hydroeletric plant in Itaparica
He highlighted the critical situation faced by the river due to the latest drought, the harshest in 50 years, aggravated after the reduction in the outflow of reservoirs . “There’s been a reduction in the outflow since 2001. in order to supply hydroeletrics plants. It causes an environmental, social and economic impact on the other water s, and hydroelectric plants never mention the appropriate compensation they should pay,” he argued.
Miranda further remarked that revitalizing the São Francisco should be seen as a strategic action, and he mentioned a range of water use projects, like the multimodal corridor, the transfer of the river, and the expansion of irrigated riverside areas. “These are projects carried out by the public powers without their taking into how much the basin is capable of supplying everybody. In order for the projects to be conducted, the outflow must be guaranteed,” Miranda pointed out.
There is a wide range of water use projects
“A number of states haven’t been consistently drawing out their watershed master plans, but they’re issuing licenses. To do that without really knowing the conditions of this body of water is like using the license system to issue blank checks indiscriminately. This needs revising,” the committee’s chairman declared.
Translated by Fabrício Ferreira
Fonte: Campaign attempts to save longest entirely Brazilian river
