NEXUS VITAE: A METHODOLOGICAL TOOL FOR CONFLICT MANAGEMENT AND COOPERATION IN MULTI-USE RESERVOIRS

Abstract

The study analyzes the challenges of integrated management of water resources in reservoirs with diverse demands, such as energy generation, human supply, agricultural irrigation, and environmental conservation. He highlights how these demands can generate tensions and conflicts, proposing cooperation and benefit-sharing strategies to mitigate impacts and promote balance between sectors. Combining theoretical and practical concepts, the study adopts an innovative approach that integrates the interactions between water, energy and food, incorporating elements of sustainability and water security with the Transboundary Water Interaction Nexus (TWINS) method. The simultaneity between conflicts and cooperation is analyzed to identify synergies and trade-offs that guide a more efficient management. The main contribution is the Nexus Vitae methodology, structured from historical documentary analysis formed by three analytical layers — Bronze, Silver and Gold. The Bronze Layer identifies historical events that have shaped relationships of conflict and cooperation. The Silver Layer analyzes the phases of reservoir management (planning, implementation, operation, monitoring and adjustments) from social, economic, technological and environmental perspectives. Finally, the Gold Layer integrates these analyses into a conflict and cooperation matrix, highlighting critical zones through a color scale. Applied to the Sobradinho Reservoir (2013-2019), a period marked by severe drought in the São Francisco River basin, the study demonstrates how an integrated approach can support managers and public policy makers. In addition to its academic relevance, it offers practical solutions that can be replicated in other contexts, positioning itself as a reference for sustainable watershed planning in complex and competitive scenarios.