Management of droughts and floods in the semiarid Brazilian Northeast—The case for conservation
1995; Soil and Water Conservation Society; Volume: 50; Issue: 5 Linguagem: Inglês
10.1080/00224561.1995.12456988
ISSN1941-3300
Autores Tópico(s)Geography and Environmental Studies
ResumoThe Northeastern region of Brazil is home to a large semiarid expanse referred to locally as the sertao , or backland. It encompasses about 900,000 km2 (347,000 mi2) in the states of Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraiba, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceara, Piaui, and Minas Gerais (Figure 1). The region is subject to recurrent droughts, which are often followed by floods. An individual drought or flood event may not affect the entire semiarid Northeastern region (referred to in Brazil as the Poligono das Secas , or Drought Polygon), but may be of sufficient intensity and magnitude to warrant emergency measures. Portions of the sertao have recently experienced a severe 3-year drought (1990-93), affecting close to 11 million people. A question that recurs in scientific, professional, and political circles is how to effectively manage the cycle of droughts and floods of the Brazilian Northeast. In the aftermath of the Great Drought of 1877-79, the Brazilian government initiated a series of policies and strategies to combat the droughts. These policies were aimed at providing the means to store water for use during extended periods of drought. After more than …
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