Public participation in water conservation and revitalization: The case of the Das Velhas River Basin, Brazil

This thesis proposes reform of the Brazilian law governing public participation in decision-making concerning the revitalization of one river basin, the Das Velhas River Basin. Habermas' theory of Communicative Action and Ethics is used to lay a theoretical foundation on which criteria are constructed to evaluate the public participation. Civil society had mobilized in the river basin, through the Manuelzao Project, before the 1997 Brazilian Water Law was enacted. That law gave river basin committees lawmaking power for revitalization. The Das Velhas River Basin Committee authorized the creation of sub-basin forums, the Das Velhas River Basin Subcommittees, for input on local environmental aspects. However, community members lacked interest in participating in the government forums, as compared to their participation in the Manuelzao Project. Based on a thought experiment to construct local people's evaluation of their experiences, I suggest changes to improve public participation, including a consideration of marginalized groups' voices.