Healthy rivers, healthy people: A Brazil project links human & ecosystem well-being – Mongabay

Report on the Manuelzão Project: An Integrated Approach to Sustainable Development in the Velhas River Basin

Executive Summary

The Manuelzão Project, initiated in 1997 by the Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), represents a multi-disciplinary effort to restore the Velhas River Basin in southeastern Brazil. The project’s core philosophy links ecosystem vitality directly to public health, thereby aligning its activities with several key Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). By focusing on research, education, and social mobilization, the project addresses challenges of water pollution, biodiversity loss, and inadequate urban infrastructure, primarily stemming from the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region (BHMR). This report details the project’s strategic initiatives, its impact on public policy, and its contributions to achieving SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being), SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation), SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities), SDG 14 (Life Below Water), and SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals).

Project Background and Foundational Principles

Linking Environmental and Human Health: A Commitment to SDG 3

The Manuelzão Project was founded on the principle of “collective health,” a concept articulated by its founder, Dr. Apolo Heringer, which posits that human health is a direct product of balanced, healthy ecosystems. This approach moves beyond conventional medical care to address the environmental determinants of health, directly supporting the ambitions of SDG 3 (Good Health and Well-being). The project’s central thesis is that restoring the river’s ecological integrity will reduce waterborne diseases and improve the overall quality of life for the basin’s inhabitants.

Environmental Context and Urban Challenges

The Velhas River Basin and the Impact of the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region (BHMR)

The Velhas River Basin is a significant territory facing severe environmental pressures, which present a major challenge to sustainable urban development.

• Geographic Scope: The basin covers 51 municipalities and is home to over 4 million people.
• Urban Pressure: The BHMR, occupying only 10% of the basin’s area, contains over 70% of its population and is responsible for approximately 80% of the river’s pollution.
• Impact on SDG 11: The combination of high population density, inadequate urban planning, and a lack of sanitation infrastructure has led to severe degradation of local waterways, undermining progress toward SDG 11 (Sustainable Cities and Communities). The rivers within the BHMR are currently unsuitable for navigation, fishing, or swimming.

Strategic Initiatives and Policy Impact

Goal 2010: Establishing a Framework for Sanitation and Water Management

The project’s first major policy initiative, “Goal 2010,” created a strategic vision for water management in Brazil. This initiative led to significant investments in sanitation infrastructure, directly advancing SDG 6 (Clean Water and Sanitation).

1. Infrastructure Development: The initiative spurred the construction of new sewage treatment plants (ETEs), notably on the Onça and Arrudas rivers.
2. Measurable Outcomes: The volume of sewage treated by the Minas Gerais Sanitation Company (COPASA) increased from 41 million cubic meters in 2003 to 127 million cubic meters by 2010.
3. Ecological Recovery: As a result of improved water quality, fish populations began to return to stretches of the river closer to the BHMR.

Goal 2034: Aligning with National Sanitation Mandates

Building on the previous initiative, “Goal 2034” aims for the complete revitalization of the Velhas River Basin. This goal is strategically aligned with Brazil’s New Legal Framework for Sanitation (2020), which mandates that 90% of the population must have access to sewage collection and treatment by 2033. The primary objective is to upgrade the water quality in the most degraded section of the river from Class 4 (heavily polluted) to Class 2 (suitable for fishing and human consumption after treatment), representing a critical step toward achieving SDG 6.

Biodiversity Monitoring and Ecosystem Restoration

The Dorado as a Bioindicator for SDG 14

The return of fish is the project’s ultimate indicator of success, symbolizing the restoration of the aquatic ecosystem. This focus is a direct contribution to SDG 14 (Life Below Water).

• Bioindicator Selection: The dorado (Salminus franciscanus) was chosen as the symbolic fish for the basin. Its presence indicates high oxygen levels and good water quality, making it an effective bioindicator of ecosystem health.
• Socioeconomic Importance: Restoring fish populations also addresses the economic and social dimensions of environmental degradation, as healthy rivers provide a source of food and livelihood for local communities.

A Collaborative Framework for Sustainable Development

Fostering Partnerships and Education for the Goals

The Manuelzão Project operates as a multi-stakeholder platform, exemplifying the principles of SDG 17 (Partnerships for the Goals). It brings together academia, civil society, public authorities, and the private sector to achieve its objectives. Furthermore, through its research center (NuVelhas) and community-based Manuelzão Centers, the project engages in extensive research, citizen science, and environmental education. These activities are crucial for building public awareness and scientific capacity, contributing to SDG 4 (Quality Education) by transforming public understanding of the relationship between human activity and environmental health.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article on the Manuelzão Project addresses several interconnected Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) by focusing on the restoration of the Velhas River Basin and its impact on both the environment and human well-being. The following SDGs are relevant:

• SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being: The project is founded on the principle of “collective health,” linking human health directly to the health of ecosystems. The article states, “there is no human health without healthy ecosystems” and mentions that clean water leads to fewer illnesses, such as those caused by worms from polluted water.
• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation: This is the most central SDG in the article. The project’s primary activities revolve around improving water quality by advocating for and monitoring the effects of proper sewage collection and treatment. The article details the problems of high population density and lack of infrastructure leading to river pollution and the project’s goals to achieve universal sanitation.
• SDG 11: Sustainable Cities and Communities: The article highlights the negative impact of the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region (BHMR), a large urban area, on the river basin. It points to “high population density, inadequate urban planning and lack of infrastructure” as the cause of 80% of the river’s degradation, making urban environmental management a key issue.
• SDG 14: Life Below Water: The project’s ultimate goal is to revitalize the river basin and “bringing back the fish.” The health and presence of fish, particularly the dorado (Salminus franciscanus), are used as primary indicators of the ecosystem’s recovery, directly addressing the protection and restoration of aquatic ecosystems.
• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals: The Manuelzão Project is described as a “multi- and interdisciplinary project” involving a university (UFMG), students, professors, researchers, civil society, public authorities, and the private sector. This collaborative model is a clear example of a multi-stakeholder partnership working towards sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the activities and goals described in the article, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. Target 6.3: Improve water quality by reducing pollution. The article directly addresses this target through the project’s focus on ensuring “proper sewage collection and treatment.” The goal to upgrade the river’s quality from Class 4 (“it’s a sewer”) to Class 2 (suitable for fishing and human consumption after treatment) is a concrete objective aligned with this target. The article also mentions the increase in treated sewage volume as a key achievement.
2. Target 6.2: Achieve access to adequate and equitable sanitation. The article references Brazil’s “New Legal Framework for Sanitation,” which aims for 90% of the population to have access to sewage collection and treatment by 2033. The Manuelzão Project’s “Goal 2034” is aligned with this national objective to universalize sanitation.
3. Target 14.2: Sustainably manage and protect marine and coastal ecosystems. While this target explicitly mentions marine and coastal ecosystems, its principle applies to the connected freshwater ecosystems discussed in the article. The project’s core mission to “revitalizing a river basin and bringing back the fish” is a direct action toward restoring an aquatic ecosystem to avoid adverse impacts.
4. Target 3.9: Substantially reduce the number of deaths and illnesses from hazardous chemicals and air, water and soil pollution and contamination. The article implies this target by linking polluted water to illness. Dr. Heringer’s statement, “if the fish return and the water is clean, fewer people will get sick,” directly connects the project’s water purification efforts to a reduction in water-borne diseases.
5. Target 11.6: Reduce the adverse per capita environmental impact of cities. The project strategically focuses its efforts on the Belo Horizonte Metropolitan Region (BHMR), which “accounts for practically 80% of the river’s degradation.” By tackling sewage treatment in this densely populated urban area, the project aims to mitigate the city’s negative environmental footprint on the river basin.
6. Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The structure of the Manuelzão Project itself embodies this target. It is described as a partnership involving “civil society, public authorities and the private sector,” as well as academic institutions, to achieve its goals.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article mentions several specific and implied indicators used to measure the success of the Manuelzão Project and progress towards the identified targets:

• Indicator for Target 6.3 (Water Quality):
  • Volume of treated sewage: The article provides quantitative data, stating that the volume of sewage treated increased from “41 million cubic meters in 2003 to 127 million in 2010.” This is a direct measure of the implementation of wastewater treatment.
  • Water Quality Classification: The project aims to improve the river’s classification from “Class 4, the worst quality classification,” to “Class 2,” providing a clear, standardized metric for water quality improvement.
• Indicator for Target 14.2 (Ecosystem Health):
  • Presence of fish populations: The article states that “the return of fish to the river” is the main objective and that researchers confirmed a “notable improvement in the presence of these animals in waters closer to BHMR” after sewage treatment plants were built.
  • Presence of a specific bioindicator species: The dorado (Salminus franciscanus) was chosen as a symbolic bioindicator. Its presence is used to signify good water quality because it “needs a lot of oxygen to survive,” which is absent in polluted waters. Monitoring the return of this specific species serves as a key indicator of ecosystem health.
• Indicator for Target 6.2 (Sanitation Access):
  • Proportion of population with access to sanitation: The article references the national goal that “by 2033, 90% of the country’s population must have access to collection and sewage treatment.” This percentage is a direct indicator for measuring progress on sanitation infrastructure.
• Indicator for Target 3.9 (Health):
  • Incidence of water-borne diseases: While not providing specific data, the article implies that a reduction in illnesses is an expected outcome. The statement “medicine began to understand that if the fish return and the water is clean, fewer people will get sick” suggests that public health metrics related to water-borne diseases would be a relevant, albeit implied, indicator.

Summary of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: news.mongabay.com