Protocolos de avaliação rápida: uma ferramenta de avaliação participativa de cursos d água urbanos

Abstract

Nowadays, the water streams located in urban areas have been targeted by several environmental measures that ended up modifying their natural features. These water streams have changed into sewage channels and any intervention over them is not considered shocking by the society anymore. The lack of information and knowledge on the environmental quality of these water streams makes the situation even worse. Aiming to help solving those problems, the Brazilian legislation rules that the population must participate in several stages of the water resources monitoring process. However, It is noticed that, despite the fact of being participation, It does not possesses qualification to achieve the environmental improving actions required for a consequent improving of life quality. It is in this context that the Rapid Bioassessment Protocols for Use in Streams and Rivers, mentioned in this study as PARs, arise as a tool for an integrated analysis of the ecosystems through an easy, simple and fast to apply methodology, consisting of a visual inspection responsible for gathering the physical features of the watercourse under assessment. PARs are thought-out to be simple tools for participatory watercourses assessment. This study aims proposing the use of a Rapid Bioassessment Protocol for Physical Environment Aspects as an instrument of social participation in environmental quality of superficial watercourses inserted in urban regions evaluation, using as a case study the locality of Arroio Laranjeiras in the city of Candelária-RS, Brazil. In order to achieve the target, 10 volunteers were mobilized, all of them linked with the town s politics or members of groups with action of preservation of urban watercourses. In relation of the application of the protocol, by the volunteers, in 3 previously defined points according with the soil using and occupation by different social ranks and access facility, It was possible to check that human actions and urbanization cause negative impacts over Arroio Laranjeiras. Considering that the evaluated watercourse characteristics are different from the ones used in the model protocol It was certified that the utilized protocol needs adaptations. The using of Rapid Bioassessment Protocols showed itself as an important tool of social participation in the environmental evaluation of urban watercourses and also as an important instrument of Environmental Education, considering that it induces to a reflection about many subjects related to environmental quality of watercourses. Bringing to an end, It was notice that this instrument can still be useful not only in the environmental evaluation, but also in the identification of the environmental degradation causes and consequent pursuit by solutions.