Understanding governance in the implementation of rainwater systems in the Amazon – Belem
Management of Environmental Quality
ISSN: 1477-7835
Article publication date: 11 October 2019
Issue publication date: 9 January 2020
Abstract
Purpose
The purpose of this paper is to develop a case study of niche governance to analyze the governance of rainwater systems in the Amazon.
Design/methodology/approach
A visualization of the interactions of stakeholders was made with the use of social network analysis, where data were collected through interviews to experts from the region. A framework based on niche management and the safe, resilient and sustainable (Safe and SuRe) principles were used to interpret the results.
Findings
The work identifies key players and issues influencing governance for the implementation of rainwater systems; and capture of decision-making powers by agents making evident redundancies in the management of rainwater in the region; highlighting issues of lack of inclusion in the decision-making process, planning and implementation; threatening the sustainability, resilience and governance of rainwater systems in Belem.
Originality/value
Methodologically, this work is the first of its kind for the amazon and contributes to the exploration of tools and frameworks to assess governance in the implementation of rainwater systems.
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors want to thank the Federal University of Para for the support offered during the fieldwork of this research. Also to the riverside communities of Belem who shared with us their knowledge and experience on the use of the rainwater systems. A special mention is due to the AquaSocial project who founded the initial stages of the research from where this document is originated.
Citation
Cardoso Castro, P.P., Ravena, N. and Mendes, R. (2020), "Understanding governance in the implementation of rainwater systems in the Amazon – Belem", Management of Environmental Quality, Vol. 31 No. 1, pp. 54-74. https://doi.org/10.1108/MEQ-03-2019-0061
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
Copyright © 2019, Emerald Publishing Limited