Water Charge and Conservation of Natural Areas: An Ex‐Ante Assessment of a Policy Proposal for the Mantiqueira Region, Brazil

Abstract Water plays a central role in several socioeconomic and environmental nexuses. Faced with various anthropogenic pressures that act as water scarcity drivers and knowing that the unavailability of water can be a limiting factor for economic development, there is an urgent need for the design...

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Main Authors: Ademir Rocha, Eduardo Haddad, Alan Leal, João Corrêa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2023-10-01
Series:Water Resources Research
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR034510
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author Ademir Rocha
Eduardo Haddad
Alan Leal
João Corrêa
author_facet Ademir Rocha
Eduardo Haddad
Alan Leal
João Corrêa
author_sort Ademir Rocha
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Water plays a central role in several socioeconomic and environmental nexuses. Faced with various anthropogenic pressures that act as water scarcity drivers and knowing that the unavailability of water can be a limiting factor for economic development, there is an urgent need for the design and evaluation of economic instruments that help in the management of water resources. This article presents a proposal and assessment for a Pigouvian water charge instrument. The instrument suggests imposing a charge based on the amount of water consumed, targeting the agriculture, livestock, forest extraction, and aquaculture sectors. The revenue generated from this charge could be utilized to fund reforestation initiatives and support government expenditures, thereby creating both environmental and economic advantages. Based on a calibrated static computable general equilibrium economic model for the Brazilian Mantiqueira region, it was possible to estimate that a water charge policy at a rate of R$ 0.10/m3 (US$ 0.026/m3) could lead to an increase in the Brazilian GDP in the benchmark year by US$ 10.7 million. Economic benefits could also be verified at the regional level, especially in those areas where there are water‐intensive economic activities. On the environmental side, the water charge could incentivize actions capable of recovering approximately 80 km2 of natural areas.
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spelling doaj-art-e5c1f7e42c22464bafffb4e19fa17bd12025-08-20T02:35:08ZengWileyWater Resources Research0043-13971944-79732023-10-015910n/an/a10.1029/2023WR034510Water Charge and Conservation of Natural Areas: An Ex‐Ante Assessment of a Policy Proposal for the Mantiqueira Region, BrazilAdemir Rocha0Eduardo Haddad1Alan Leal2João Corrêa3Department of Economics University of São Paulo São Paulo BrazilDepartment of Economics University of São Paulo São Paulo BrazilDepartment of Economics University of São Paulo São Paulo BrazilDepartment of Economics University of São Paulo São Paulo BrazilAbstract Water plays a central role in several socioeconomic and environmental nexuses. Faced with various anthropogenic pressures that act as water scarcity drivers and knowing that the unavailability of water can be a limiting factor for economic development, there is an urgent need for the design and evaluation of economic instruments that help in the management of water resources. This article presents a proposal and assessment for a Pigouvian water charge instrument. The instrument suggests imposing a charge based on the amount of water consumed, targeting the agriculture, livestock, forest extraction, and aquaculture sectors. The revenue generated from this charge could be utilized to fund reforestation initiatives and support government expenditures, thereby creating both environmental and economic advantages. Based on a calibrated static computable general equilibrium economic model for the Brazilian Mantiqueira region, it was possible to estimate that a water charge policy at a rate of R$ 0.10/m3 (US$ 0.026/m3) could lead to an increase in the Brazilian GDP in the benchmark year by US$ 10.7 million. Economic benefits could also be verified at the regional level, especially in those areas where there are water‐intensive economic activities. On the environmental side, the water charge could incentivize actions capable of recovering approximately 80 km2 of natural areas.https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR034510water charge instrumentwater managementeconomic impactsenvironmental benefitscomputable general equilibrium model
spellingShingle Ademir Rocha
Eduardo Haddad
Alan Leal
João Corrêa
Water Charge and Conservation of Natural Areas: An Ex‐Ante Assessment of a Policy Proposal for the Mantiqueira Region, Brazil
Water Resources Research
water charge instrument
water management
economic impacts
environmental benefits
computable general equilibrium model
title Water Charge and Conservation of Natural Areas: An Ex‐Ante Assessment of a Policy Proposal for the Mantiqueira Region, Brazil
title_full Water Charge and Conservation of Natural Areas: An Ex‐Ante Assessment of a Policy Proposal for the Mantiqueira Region, Brazil
title_fullStr Water Charge and Conservation of Natural Areas: An Ex‐Ante Assessment of a Policy Proposal for the Mantiqueira Region, Brazil
title_full_unstemmed Water Charge and Conservation of Natural Areas: An Ex‐Ante Assessment of a Policy Proposal for the Mantiqueira Region, Brazil
title_short Water Charge and Conservation of Natural Areas: An Ex‐Ante Assessment of a Policy Proposal for the Mantiqueira Region, Brazil
title_sort water charge and conservation of natural areas an ex ante assessment of a policy proposal for the mantiqueira region brazil
topic water charge instrument
water management
economic impacts
environmental benefits
computable general equilibrium model
url https://doi.org/10.1029/2023WR034510
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