Turbulent waters in Northeast Brazil: A typology of water governance-related conflicts

• Published in: Environmental science & policy Vol. 126; pp. 99 - 110
• Main Authors: Studart, Ticiana Marinho de Carvalho, Campos, José Nilson B., Souza Filho, Francisco Assis de, Pinheiro, Maria Inês Teixeira, Barros, Luis Silva
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2021
• Subjects: Governance; Socio-hydrology; Water conflict; Water conflict typology; Governance; Water conflict typology; Water conflict; Socio-hydrology
• ISSN: 1462-9011; 1873-6416
• DOI: 10.1016/j.envsci.2021.09.014

In this paper we build a water conflict typology and discuss some applications for water resources planning and management. To show how a typology was built we highlight twelve well documented water conflicts historical cases in the semiarid region of Ceará state and water conflicts collectively identified by river basin committee members in four water resources river basin plans. To show how the typology works we applied it to contemporary cases of water conflicts headlined in the national media. Conflicts are separated into component characteristics such as triggers, actors, length, coverage area, mediation arena, and other useful information. As the complexity of social-environmental issues increases new tools for organizing data into useful information increase in demand. We believe that this water conflict typology can be employed as an analytical instrument capable of providing a "bird's-eye view" of diffuse sources of conflict. [Display omitted] •Typologies can play a key role in organizing diffuse but crucial information for water management.•Few typologies focus on water conflicts.•We show how a water conflict typology can reveal patterns that are vital for water management decision-making.