After two years of investment on institutional strengthening of the environmental management of municipalities in Jalapão region, by supporting the creation and training of the Municipal Councils of Environment and Tourism, in this third and final year, the project will support an "model activity” selected by Municipal Councils of Ponte Alta and Rio da Conceição.
Ponte Alta
The Workshop on "Program Planning for Urban River Management" was held in Ponte Alta do Tocantins on June 20th and 21st, was promoted by the project team with Semades and Naturatins support. The revitalization of the urban part of the River Ponte Alta, a demand proposed by the Council that is also part of the activities demanded by CAOMA / MPE.
During the workshop conducted by the JICA consultant Selene Sotero with the assistance of Junko Kikuchi, the expert Shinichiro Tsuji presented the Japanese experience on river administration, related legal instruments and the change of conception as to maintaining the natural environment of the rivers. The engineer from the Naturatins’ monitoring department, Hélcio Amorim, presented his report made after visit "on site" in the stretch between of 7km above and 7km below the bridge, emphasizing the sedimentation critical points identified.
Representatives of SEMADES, Fabrizio Fonseca and Aymara Colen, presented a table on the distribution of the ICMS Ecológico and some information on the Rio das Balsas watershed Master Plan. The council discussed ways to reinforce the use of the ICMS Ecológico for investments in conservation of local natural resources.
When addressing the issue of the proper use of a public area near the Ponte Alta River, the group decided to form a Working Group to discuss the drafting of the Municipal System of Conservation Units (SMUC).
Rio da Conceição
On June 22nd and 23rd the Project team was in Rio da Conceição for the Workshop on Local Tourist Attractions with the support of SEMADES. In this municipality, the council members selected activities related to the promotion of ecotourism as a strategy for sustainable use and conservation of their environmental patrimony.
After the selection of priority natural attractions to be promoted, the group proceeded to visit some of the main attractions.
The expectation is, at the end of all activities, to possess a Plan of Use of two selected natural attractions and a communication campaign to promote the ecotourism potential of the municipality, which will be both presented to the community through a public consultation.
Author: James Possapp.
