More than 100 springs were recovered through the project ‘Springs of the West’led by the Association of Farmers and Irrigators of Bahia (Aiba) in partnership with rural producers in Western Bahia.
Under the supervision of the agricultural entity’s Sustainability Center, the project is advancing to its fourth phase and has been running since 2016, also with resources from the Agricultural Development Program (Prodeagro).
According to Aiba, preserving waters and springs for the balanced use of environmental resources is the main purpose of the project, which also includes Environmental Education actions.
The next Technical Cooperation agreements will be signed between Aiba and the city councils of Cotegipe and Tabocas do Brejo Velho, municipalities that will be the next destinations to be covered with recovered springs and paths.
In the municipality of Cocos, springs will be recovered at the head of Vereda do Jacaré, where the aim is to increase the production of water that supplies more than 80 families.
The initiative in partnership with Fazenda Santa Colomba will have the support of the Municipal Environment Secretariat and other local institutions.
According to Aiba’s environmental analyst, Artur Ribeiro, “to recover springs or paths you need to know them and taking this knowledge to people is the role of the Nascentes do Oeste Project, which also seeks to join efforts with city halls , communities and rural producers to recover these water resources”.
The most recent actions of the project were carried out in the municipalities of Angical, Cristópolis, São Desidério and Formosa do Rio Preto.
Revitalization methods
Aiba reported that several methods are applied to revitalize and increase water flow in springs, based on local diagnosis, such as Caxambú, a recovery method that consists of building a filter box that covers the spring, preventing it from being silted up.
Another method carried out was the reforestation and beginning of the fencing of the springs, carried out in the communities of São João 3, Nego Velho, Lagoa do Bolor and also the reforestation of the headwaters of the Limoeiro path.
In addition, each community receives Environmental Education actions, through ‘Café com Prosa’ in the Chaprão and Lagoa do Bolor Community. In Angical, the fencing of the Vereda do Riachão de Seriema and a workshop on the relationship between geology and the formation of springs and paths began, at the Escola Municipal Antônio Carlos Magalhães, in Mucambinho.
In São Desidério, the construction of the caxambu method of the spring in the town of Riacho Grande was also resumed and the Carvalhos spring was fenced.
“For more than ten years, the oldest residents of the village used this water that reached the village square, and used it for drinking. And from now on, with the recovery of this spring, this water will reach the square again. I showed the video to residents over 70 years old and they were thrilled to know that they would be able to count on this again”, revealed the resident of Riacho Grande, Jeová Pereira.
Among the project’s environmental education actions are interviews on radio programs and workshops in municipal schools.
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