Water Resources in Brazil and the Sustainable Development of the Semi-arid North East

Abstract

This paper is the result and synthesis of several water resources studies carried out by a group of specialists within the 'ARIDAS Project-A Strategy for the Sustainable Developmentof North East Brazil'. The paper comprises basically: diagnosis of the water resources situation in the North East; analysis of water sustainability, vulnerability to droughts, current water policies, and implications for the future; and guidelines for the setting up of a new water resources policy taking into account the sustainable developmentof the region. Deficient or critical areas were identified in terms of quantity, quality and vulnerability. Patterns of sustainability and vulnerability indexes were suggested, as well as a few general lines of action.