THE THERMOMETER OF WATER RESOURCES GOVERNANCE IN GOIÁS

Abstract

In the State of Goiás, water governance has been developed through legal instruments such as the State Water Resources Plan and the performance of the River Basin Committees (CBH), which are essential to coordinate actions between different sectors. However, the state faces challenges such as increasing pressure on water resources caused by agricultural expansion, urbanization, and climate change. In this sense, the objective was to measure the implementation of the instruments of planning and management of Water Resources in Goiás, employing the governance thermometer. The research used the five dimensions (institutional environment, state capacities, management instruments, state-society interaction and governmental interactions). Questionnaires were applied to members of the CBHs and the State Council of Water Resources (CERHi) in 2024. Despite the advances, such as the implementation of the Webgrant system, the recomposition of the State Council of Water Resources and the creation of the Hydrometeorological Monitoring Center, obstacles persist, such as the need for continuous training, effective implementation of basin plans, operationalization of charging for the use of water, financial reorganization and improvement in institutional communication. Strengthening water governance in Goiás requires coordinated actions, greater transparency and integration among the actors involved, aiming at water security and the sustainability of resources in the long term.