The value of hydrologic information for watershed management programs: The case of Camboriú, Brazil

Article explores the value of hydrologic modeling and monitoring with respect to two dimensions: scientific credibility and use of generated knowledge in the design, implementation, and evaluation of the watershed management program in the Camboriú watershed, Brazil

Payment for Ecosystem Services: A strategy for environmental conservation in agricultural regions of Brazil?/ Pagamento por Serviços Ambientais – uma estratégia para a conservação ambiental nas regiões produtivas do Brasil?

The world population is expected to reach 9 billion by 2050, which will put greater pressure on natural resources to ensure the nutritional requirements and well-being for such a large population. Enormous investments in agricultural research, health, energy sources, material technologies, policies for poverty reduction and strategies for sustainable development must be made to meet this scenario. Actions to conserve natural resources and ecosystem services are implicit in sustainable development strategies. An increase in the number of public policies being implemented, their results, ongoing projects and research related to environmental conservation are being observed and attest to their current and future relevance. This is a bilingual article presented in English and Portuguese

Biophysical Benefits Simulation Modeling Framework for Investments in Nature-Based Solutions in São Paulo, Brazil Water Supply System

In order to understand the hydrological impacts of the nature-based solutions in the Cantareira Water Supply System, this study evaluates six different land cover and land use change scenarios. The first and second consider the restoration of native vegetation in riparian areas, the third prioritizes restoration sites using biophysical characteristics (optimized restoration scenario derived from Resource Investment Optimization System—RIOS), the fourth considers best management practices and the fifth and sixth are hypothetical extreme scenarios converting all pasture to forest and vice versa. Two hydrological models were developed to represent the distributions of water and yields in the study watershed: HEC-HMS and SWAT. Simulation results indicate that when nature-based solutions are implemented, surface runoff is reduced and ambient storage increases during the rainy season (December–March); while the overall flow increases during the dry season (June–September). The combination of specific hydrologic components of RIOS-customized intervention scenario simulation outputs—namely surface flows and groundwater contribution to stream flows—indicate on average 33% increase in the overall water yield, or 206 hm3/year, across the study watershed when comparing against the baseline conditions. In the same modeling scenario, the water storage in the sub-watersheds adjacent to the reservoirs showed an increase of 58% (or 341 hm3/year). The results indicate that adopting NbS in the source watershed can mitigate the impacts of extreme drought conditions and contribute toward building long-term water security

Economic Cost of Drought and Potential Benefits of Investing in Nature-Based Solutions: A Case Study in São Paulo, Brazil

Despite its rich water resources, Brazil is increasingly facing extreme hydrologic events such as droughts and floods. The Sao Paulo Cantareira water supply system (CWSS) offers an opportunity to examine the potential economic benefits of nature-based solutions (NbS) to improve water security and reduce the economic cost of drought. This study explores the potential benefits under a counterfactual NbS land-use scenario compared to actual land use and assesses the economic viability of NbS investments in the CWSS. Specifically, we estimate the economic cost of the 2014–2015 drought in Sao Paulo state for the industrial and water sectors served by the CWSS. We estimate the potential avoided costs under the NbS scenario and conduct a cost–benefit analysis of the NbS scenario investments, including both water supply and carbon sequestration benefits. We estimate that the economic losses of this single drought event totaled BRL 1.6 billion. If NbS had been implemented, this cost could have been reduced by 28%. A cost–benefit analysis that includes only the water supply or both the water supply and carbon sequestration benefits indicates that the NbS scenario has a positive net present value of BRL 144 million and BRL 632 million, respectively. Thus, our results highlight the economic viability of the hypothetical NbS investment in mitigating extreme climatic events

Biophysical Benefits Simulation Modeling Framework for Investments in Nature-Based Solutions in São Paulo, Brazil Water Supply System

In order to understand the hydrological impacts of the nature-based solutions in the Cantareira Water Supply System, this study evaluates six different land cover and land use change scenarios. The first and second consider the restoration of native vegetation in riparian areas, the third prioritizes restoration sites using biophysical characteristics (optimized restoration scenario derived from Resource Investment Optimization System—RIOS), the fourth considers best management practices and the fifth and sixth are hypothetical extreme scenarios converting all pasture to forest and vice versa. Two hydrological models were developed to represent the distributions of water and yields in the study watershed: HEC-HMS and SWAT. Simulation results indicate that when nature-based solutions are implemented, surface runoff is reduced and ambient storage increases during the rainy season (December–March); while the overall flow increases during the dry season (June–September). The combination of specific hydrologic components of RIOS-customized intervention scenario simulation outputs—namely surface flows and groundwater contribution to stream flows—indicate on average 33% increase in the overall water yield, or 206 hm3/year, across the study watershed when comparing against the baseline conditions. In the same modeling scenario, the water storage in the sub-watersheds adjacent to the reservoirs showed an increase of 58% (or 341 hm3/year). The results indicate that adopting NbS in the source watershed can mitigate the impacts of extreme drought conditions and contribute toward building long-term water security

Assessment of the sublethal toxicity of organochlorine pesticide endosulfan in juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio)

This study is aimed at evaluating the sublethal effects of endosulfan (EDS) in juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio). For this purpose, fish were exposed for 15 days to the technical EDS (95% pure) diluted in dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) 0.1% of the total volume in water solution in a semi-static system at sublethal concentration (1 mu g/L). Subsequently, the liver somatic index (LSI) and factor condition (K) were determined. The total cytocrome P450 (CYP), CYP1A isoform, and the ethoxyresorufin-O-deethylase (EROD) activity were determined from the hepatic microsomal fraction as well as the activity of the oxidative stress enzyme system such as superoxide dismutase (SOD), catalase (CAT), glutathione-S-transferase (GST), glutathione peroxidase (GP(X)), glutathione reductase (GR), and glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PDH). Among the parameters assessed, EDS at the sublethal concentration in subchronic exposure caused significant changes in liver somatic indices as well as induction of the phase I biotransformation system and oxidative stress in juvenile common carp (Cyprinus carpio). Thus, it is seen that the use of biochemical biomarkers of environmental contamination in this study proved to be an extremely important tool for detecting the adverse effects of xenobiotics in the aquatic environment, even at low concentration.Sao Paulo Research Foundation, Brazil. (FAPESP) [1999/12198-0]Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, Brazil

Cytochrome P450 detection in liver of the catfish Ancistrus multispinis (Osteichthyes, Loricariidae)

Sensitive biological responses to environmental contaminants are useful as early warning signals to predict the damages by long-term exposure. Protocols standardization to quantify biochemical parameters in different fish species is required to validate its use as biomarkers. Comparative studies from different fish species and its interpretation are a challenge for the validation of its use as general biomarkers, representative of environmental impact. In this study, the protocol for liver cytochrome P450 (CYP) analysis from the native Brazilian fish Ancistrus multispinis was established. The microsome contamination by hemoglobin during the analysis of CYP in liver was detected, leading to misinterpretation of the results. The spectrophotometric method for CYP analysis was adapted in order to diminish the hemoglobin interference. Additionally, the western blotting method for CYP1A analysis was tested with success for this fish species.<br>Respostas biológicas sensíveis aos contaminantes ambientais são úteis para prever efeitos prejudiciais devido a exposições crônicas. Padronização de protocolos para quantificar parâmetros bioquímicos em diferentes espécies de peixes é necessária para validar o uso como biomarcador. Estudos comparativos de diferentes espécies de peixe e sua interpretação são um avanço para a validação do uso de biomarcadores gerais, representativos do impacto ambiental. Neste estudo o protocolo para a análise do citocromo P450 (CYP) do peixe nativo brasileiro Ancistrus multispinis foi estabelecido. Cyp é um biomarcador de exposição principalmente de hidrocarbonetos policíclicos aromáticos (HAP), bifenilas policloradas (PCB) e dioxinas. A contaminação do microssomo pela hemoglobina durante as análises do CYP no fígado foi detectada, levando a uma interpretação errônea dos resultados. O método espectrofotométrico para análise do CYP foi adaptado para diminuir a interferência da hemoglobina. Além disso, o método de western blotting para análise de CYP1A foi testado com sucesso para essa espécie de peixe