O valor econômico e estratégico das águas da Amazônia

Abstract

Water is, in itself, a natural resource that is indispensable for life, extremely important for metabolism and socioeconomic processes and vital for balancing and maintaining climatic conditions and the environment in general. The asset “water” in its ontological aspect, that is, as a substance in itself, as well as a socioeconomic entity, and the waters of Amazonia in particular, may have their ECONOMIC VALUE measured or calculated, to be expressed in monetary units, guided by the principle that these waters are a STRATEGIC ASSET. This thesis does not restrict the condition of water’s existence only to the physical liquid state of the substance, nor to the principles that the value of this asset originates or is derived from economic/financial costs of obtaining, treating, storing or distributing it, nor yet to that which is obtained under the focus of scarcity. “The Value of Non-Use” or “of the Existence” of the object of this study is the principle focus of this thesis. The Amazon region possesses the largest reserves of freshwater, tropical forest and biodiversity on the planet. The complex system resulting from this interaction, in the dynamic and functional, as well as static (stocks) aspects, is generated and its maintenance will only be possible if there is no significant alteration in the regional hydrological cycle, which is vitally important to the Earth’s climatic equilibrium, through carrying heat and humidity, and, more specifically, when it is expressed as support for productive activities in the Brazilian territory that are of great economic relevance. Thus, it is important that strategies be identified, mechanisms be created and parameters be established for managing this immense natural resource, with compensatory mechanisms and policies being presented, including the transfer of financial resources that can promote socioeconomic development for the region. The research that informed the development of this thesis has a theoretical, conceptual and multidisciplinary character, involving knowledge of geosciences (geology, meteorology, hydrology), economics, engineering, public policies, ecology and sociology, with two principal lines of thinking: hydrological and economic.