Experimentation of a program of actions for the sustainable and participatory land regularization (RFSP) in a sub basin pilot: a case study involving microbiological contamination of waters in the Guarapiranga Basin

Abstract

Irregular occupations are a phenomenon characteristic of the urbanization of the Metropolitan Region of São Paulo (MRSP). Its multiplication causes significant environmental degradation. The precarious populations illegally occupy protected areas such as around the water reservoir of Guarapiranga and threaten the quality of the waters that supplying about 20% of the MRSP. This relationship expresses an antagonism between the right to an ecologically balanced environment and the right to housing. How to overcome this conflict? This situation showed the need for dialogue between the stakeholders of this conflict. In order to move towards "solving" this problem, CETESB proposes a research project that aims to experiment with the residents and institutions concerned a program of actions for the sustainable and participatory land regularization (RFSP) of irregular occupations in a pilot area in the Guarapiranga Basin. This pilot area will be a sub basin that, in our opinion, is the appropriate level of intervention, enabling a comprehensive and integrated view of problems, actors and solutions. It will be chosen with partner institutions from the problematic areas of the Basin. This program articulates a partnership component (forum of institutions) to promote discussion among the parties involved in the problems (housing, health and environment) to define and implement integrated solutions; a participatory component (residents' forum) to involve the irregular occupations' residents in the process and empower them; and a health component (microbiological study) to analyze and report on the microbiological contamination of water sources used by the population. The integration of this microbiological study into the program will boost the environmental education of the irregular occupations' residents. It will allow us to sensitize them to the fact that the degradation of the environment results in an impact on the health of the population. (AU)