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Second International Workshop: Outcomes

Macaulay Land Use Research Institute, Aberdeen

18 - 19 August 2009

Summary of outcome

A group of scientists based in Scotland, Brazil and the Netherlands attended a workshop in Aberdeen between the 18th and 21st of August 2009 to exchange knowledge and research experiences in the Pantanal (a large tropical wetland system in the middle of South America, shared between Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay). The audience also included regulators from the Scottish Environment Protection Agency (SEPA) and data provided by the Brazilian water regulatory agency (SEMA-MT). The programme comprised a range of discussions and presentations on water quality, eco-hydrology and water governance in Europe and in Brazil. The results of the workshop are now going to inform the preparation of further research projects in the Pantanal (with an initial focus on the Cuiabá River Basin, one of the most heavily impacted catchments) to be developed in a partnership between Brazilian and European scientists. The final outcomes of the research are expected to provide inputs to environmental regulators and local water stakeholders about appropriate water quality standards (ecological and chemical), and what is needed to achieve these standards. This initiative is sponsored by The Leverhulme Trust (as part of a three-year international network) and the organisation of this workshop was also supported by the Macaulay Land Use Research Institute via its Catchment Management team.

The land use pressures in the plateaux (Planalto) surrounding the Pantanal wetland have been increasing since 70s, raising the soil losses and the use of fertilizers and pesticides, specially related to activities of cattle ranching and crops production as soy bean, corn, cotton and sugar cane in quite large farms very mechanized and dependent of fossil fuel; this sugar cane area must increase to produce biofuel, a programme of Federal Government. In addition the Cuiabá/Varzea Grande city area is responsible for the discharge of almost 80% of all urban effluent and solid waste into the river and the Manso Dam has affected the hydrological regime of Cuiabá River. In the Poconé area contamination by mercury  as a result of gold mining has occurred. Inundation of the floodplains is a key eco-hydrological process. The development of dams in the upper reaches of the rivers feeding the Pantanal has has a significant impact on flows. This means low flows are higher, but high flows are lower.

Through workshop discussions, the group conceived the following main areas for development of collaborative ideas and projects through soliciting  Brazilian and European research grants. These are shown below:

1. Conceptual modelling of pressures and impacts on the Pantanal from the Cuiabá river.

This requires quantification of pollutant loads, processing during transport, and identification of ecological impacts of these loads.

2. Improving the current understanding of the relations between nature and society relating to water use and conservation on the Cuiabá River Basin

This requires stakeholder dialogue along the Cuiaba river and in the Pantanal, to identify issues and co-construct solutions.

3. Measurement of biophysical gradients of Cuiaba river impacts on the Pantanal

This requires sampling of standing and running waters on longitudinal and transverse gradients, up and downstream of Cuiaba.

4. Hydrological models of sources of water

We are developing ideas for an approach to this problem, using stable isotopes to distinguish sources of water.

5. Land use and pollutant delivery from Planalto

This requires the development of small paired catchment projects which will quantify export from land use in the Planalto and demonstrate mitigation.

6. Communication and knowledge exchange

This requires building networks and capacity for creative knowledge exchange and learning between researchers and policy makers, businesses, local communities and the wider public, with a view to strengthening adaptive capacities. 

Potential projects and funding sources have been discussed, and these ideas are now being developed by the group.