PROACTIVE MANAGEMENT AND WATER TERRITORIALITIES IN THE SEMI-ARID REGION: THE CASE OF THE UBALDINHO HYDROSYSTEM – CE

Abstract

The Brazilian semiarid region is characterized by complex hydrosocial vulnerabilities, where drought events pose structural challenges to water security and regional development. This study analyzes adaptive drought management in the Ubaldinho hydrosystem, located in the Salgado River Basin, Ceará, problematizing participatory processes as instruments for territorial interpretation and the construction of water governance. The research adopted a qualitative approach through discussion groups with the reservoir's Management Committee. The main findings reveal that social participation is a fundamental element for the legitimacy and effectiveness of water management, highlighting the need for integration between technical and empirical knowledge in the construction of water territorialities. The socio-environmental vulnerabilities identified encompass multiple dimensions, while the main barriers include limited inter-institutional coordination and deficiencies in the articulation between management scales. The transition to adaptive management is essential to address climate vulnerabilities in the semi-arid region of Ceará, requiring integrated approaches that recognize territorial complexity and value participatory processes in the construction of contextualized solutions.