Juliana Andrade
Reporter - Agência Brasil

Brasília - "Brazil is the first Latin American country to hand in its homework," affirmed the minister of Environment, Marina Silva, referring to the National Water Resources Plan (PNRH), officially launched today (3) in Brasília by president Luiz Inácio Lula da Silva.

The plan, which was approved unanimously by the members of the National Water Resources Council at the end of January, establishes guidelines and government policies for rational water use in the country through 2020.

The minister recalled that Brazil possesses around 12% of the world's fresh water reserves. With the inauguration of the plan, the country is complying with a proposal formulated in the Agenda of the Johannesburg Summit (Rio+10), determining the preparation of integrated water resource management plans by 2005, in order to halve the percentage of the population without access to potable water and basic sanitation by 2015.

"The plan represents a victory for society when it comes to the multiple use of water, so that demand can be met on a sustainable basis for human and animal consumption, in agriculture and industry," the minister said. In her opinion, the plan can also help "to avoid errors that have been committed in the past, including the waste and contamination of water resources."

According to Silva, the Brazilian experience will be presented at the 4th World Water Forum, which will take place in Mexico in April. She made a point of mentioning the methodology used to draft the plan, with the participation of various segments of society.

Translation: David Silberstein