Dynamic Land Use Change as Challenge for IWRM: A Case Study in Central Brazil

Abstract

The management of water and land resources in the Distrito Federal (DF), Western Central Brazil is characterized by very dynamic changes of land use/land cover driven by economic development, population growth and climate change. This problem is addressed by the project IWAS-AGUA DF which aims at creating a scientific base for the sustainable management of water and land resources in scope of an IWRM approach for the Distrito Federal. Land use change and climate change are affecting water resources in the Distrito Federal already substantially. Major effects identified during the project phase are (1) decreasing base flow during the dry season, partially caused by the expansion of agriculture and urbanization and (2) sediment generation and siltation of reservoirs mostly caused by urbanization. The general objective of the project is to contribute to an IWRM approach for the Distrito Federal, identifying causes of problems and possible solutions to maintain sustainable water supply for the region. The objective of the selected five case studies was to develop approaches with focus on all river basins of DF (1) to assess effects of land use on water resources in the past and with focus on the Pipiripau river basin (2) to predict the efficiency of measures (environmental services) and (3) to develop approaches for land use planning as part of an IWRM. For the Lago Paranoa basin two further case studies (4) for the identification of sediment sources and (5) to classify urban areas in terms of effects on water resources were carried out.