Programas de pagamento por serviços ambientais na gestão dos recursos hídricos: a experiência do FUNBOAS na bacia Lagos São João - RJ.

Abstract

Programs of Payment for Environmental Services (PES) correspond to transfers of resources (monetary or other) for those who help to maintain or to produce ecosystem services. This study was concerned with the comprehension of the actual contribution of these PES programs for the sustainable management of water resources, standing out standing out the FUNBOAS program case Social and Environmental Good Practices Found, created by the Lagos São João Watersheds Committee (CBHLSJ). To achieve the purpose of this study and to understand the impacts of the program in the watershed, we used information provided by CBHLSJ and field visits were made, where water samples were collected for analysis of physico-chemical parameters (pH, turbidity, NH3, P, DO , DOC and TOC) and interviews with local people were conducted. The FUNBOAS is a mechanism for technical and financial incentive to those who help to conserve water resources and is supplied with funds from the charge for the use of the watershed. In general, we observed that the FUNBOAS enabled the benefited farmers to adopt more sustainable management practices, contributing to the provision of ecosystem services. The results of water analyzes indicated that there are still critical points of contamination in the watershed, where it is necessary that measures be taken to restore the stream water quality of the stream. The interviews enable to show that the FUNBOAS affected the way of life of watershed farmers in a positive way, improving the quality of life of the families benefited. It was also noted the importance of preservation of native forests in the conservation of water quality and the environmental education work in the capacitation of the population and raise awareness of the preservation of natural resources. In addition, the environmental monitoring of water quality proved to be a fundamental tool in PES programs in water resources, they may base the decision, indicate the critical points of intervention and to evidence the impacts of actions, serving to monitor the results achieved by the program. Overall, the results achieved by this research support the conclusion that PES programs are important instruments for sustainable management of water resources, since it enables the preservation of ecosystems, contributing to socioeconomic development of affected communities.