Lessons from the Rio Doce

Lessons from Lessons from the Rio Doce the Rio Doce 5 5 th th Rio Doce Water Forum Rio Doce Water Forum Ipatinga, Brazil Ipatinga, Brazil April 5-16, 2010 April 5-16, 2010

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Lessons from the Rio Doce: A Report for the Clear Fork Watershed Council and Appalachia Community Fund Mission: “A learning expedition to discover the participatory processes guiding the water management of the Rio Doce watershed and applications to Appalachia.~April 2010” Abstract: When doing research on participatory development models, the OSM/VISTA serving the Clear Fork Watershed Council queried several list servs, including River Network, Just Connections, the Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team List Serv, and Appalachian Studies Association (please see exhibit A). In addition, Dr. John Gaventa, a fellow at the Institute for Development Studies in Sussex, England was contacted along with other researchers in an effort to look for the best methods available to increase the participation of marginalized groups for water protection and public policy within the Appalachian region where large segments of the population cannot adequately participate in environmental decisions in their communities without fear of reprisal primarily due to a contentious relationship created by the fight dividing MTR activists and local miners / families. Participation and capacity building is needed to create partnerships between the Clear Fork Watershed Council, businesses, citizens and the local government administrative interface. An introduction was made to Edmilson Teixeira who is engaged in collaborative research efforts within the Rio Doce watershed in Brazil. An invitation from Samson Marlow and Derek Douglas was extended on behalf of the Clear Fork Watershed Council to Teixeira with hopes that an Inter-American dialog on the nature of participation would be fruitful for all related parties. An invitation was returned for representatives from the Clear Fork watershed to travel to Brazil for the 5th Rio Doce Water Forum held in Ipatinga, Brazil April. The OSM/VISTA accepted the invitation. He was asked to take administrative leave from both VISTA, Appalachian Coal Country Watershed Team and Appalachia—Science in the Public Interest. The OSM/VISTA went as a representative of the Clear Fork Watershed Council with the full support of his local community and the Scientific and Technical Advisory Council made of local professionals with advanced degrees. The OSM/VISTA took official leave from his position as a OSM/VISTA, to further the understanding of the integration between water policy and public participation in Brazil. Brazil's Water Law of 1997 requires the participation of “civil society” in watershed management committees at the local, state, and federal levels. Sponsors:  Clear Fork Watershed Council  Scientific & Technical Advisory Council  Appalachian Community Fund  Dr. John Gaventa, IDS  5th Rio Doce Forum  LabGest-Laboratory of Water Resources Management & Regional Development - Federal University of Espírito Santo / Brazil  International Water and Youth Movement  Dr T. Alan Comp, private donation  Southern Partner’s Fund* Research Themes: Politics, policy, rights, governance and management Role of Youth in participatory and decision-making processes Participatory research and Environmental Education Literature Review: Please see Exhibit B: The Grips of Coal, Environmental Education Needs in Appalachia, and Hope from the Rio Doce Practical Considerations to be answered: 1. How youth solve water quality problems and how can our "youth" adopt similar practices to those demonstrated in the Rio Doce. 2. What and where is Rio Doce? Not just one event, it’s a space where different categories can run their own event. What are its problems? Sedimentation, sewage, erosion, flooding 3. Assets? minerals How is it like the Clearfork? 4. What is the Rio Doce Water Forum? What is its purpose? Who attends and what do they do there? 5. How do the "200,000 youth" actually participate in the water forums?

Transcript of Lessons from the Rio Doce

Lessons from Lessons from the Rio Docethe Rio Doce

55thth Rio Doce Water Forum Rio Doce Water ForumIpatinga, BrazilIpatinga, BrazilApril 5-16, 2010April 5-16, 2010

MissionMission

A learning expedition to discover the A learning expedition to discover the participatory processes guiding the water participatory processes guiding the water management of the Rio Doce watershed and management of the Rio Doce watershed and applications to Appalachia. applications to Appalachia.

SponsorsSponsors

Appalachian Community FundAppalachian Community Fund Dr. John Gaventa, IDSDr. John Gaventa, IDS %th Rio Doce Forum%th Rio Doce Forum LabGest-Laboratory of Water Resources LabGest-Laboratory of Water Resources

Management & Regional Development - Management & Regional Development - Federal University of Espírito Santo / Federal University of Espírito Santo / Brazil Brazil