The Santo Antônio River rises in the region of the Serra do Espinhaço Biosphere Reserve, in the municipality of Conceição do Mato Dentro, and will discharge its waters into the Doce River, one of the most important river basins in Brazil that became known worldwide after the rupture of the dam of Fundão, under the responsibility of mining company Samarco, in Mariana, Minas Gerais, on November 5, 2015. Around 39 million cubic meters of mud were released into the Doce River hydrographic basin. . A significant amount of gold poured into the Santo Antônio riverbed, from the eldorado period to the mines that proliferated in the 1980s. Currently, since 2010, a new scenario has been associated with the reality of the municipality of Conceição do Mato Dentro with the installation of the Minas-Rio mining program, by the English company Anglo American. This fact has increased the demand for water for public supply in the city, in addition to providing water for rural producers.
Fresh water: Ecosystems play a vital role in the global hydrological cycle, as they regulate the flow and purification of water. Vegetation and forests influence the quantity of water available locally.
Waste-water treatment: Ecosystems such as wetlands filter both human and animal waste and act as a natural buffer to the surrounding environment. Through the biological activity of microorganisms in the soil, most waste is broken down. Thereby pathogens (disease causing microbes) are eliminated, and the level of nutrients and pollution is reduced.
The Sowing Forests, Harvesting Waters program on the Santo Antonio River identified priority areas for environmental recovery. Areas of great relevance are forests and other forms of natural vegetation located on the shores of lakes or rivers (perennial or not); on the tops of hills; in sandbanks and mangroves; on slopes with a steep slope and on the edges of plateaus or plateaus with an inclination greater than 45º; and in areas at altitudes greater than 1,800 meters, with any vegetation cover. These areas need to be preserved and recovered so as not to cause erosion and landslides and to protect springs, fauna, flora, biodiversity and ensure the well-being of human populations.
The Sowing Forests, Harvesting Waters program on the Santo Antônio River implements soil conservation actions, such as the implementation of rainwater and sediment containment basins that promote greater water infiltration in underground systems. The Program also performs forest recomposition with the planting of seedlings of native forest species in areas of springs and riparian forests and enables the isolation of these more sensitive and important areas for water recharge.
Social ecohydrological system
EH Objectives
EH Methodology
Catchment Ecohydrological sub-system
Objectives
Stakeholders
Catchment Sociological sub-system
Activities