| At the end of this century people
around the world began to realize that water is a limited resource. "Fresh water is a
limited and vulnerable resource, indispensable to sustain life, development and the
environment." (Conference on Water and Environment, Dublin, Ireland, 1991). Daily
there's a growing scarcity and lack of water, either due to population increase or due to
pollution of the existing water sources. This is happening in many parts of the world and
also in Brazil’s semiarid region. The International Rainwater Catchment Systems Association, founded in 1982, has been demonstrating in its biannual conferences, that rainwater catchment can be a valuable fresh water source for humankind. The theme of the 9th International Rainwater Catchment Systems Conference will be: "Rainwater Catchment: An Answer to the Water Scarcity of the Next Millennium." This is urgent. We are invited to evaluate our past experiences—for at least three millennia people have collected water in cisterns and for agricultural purposes. Currently, rainwater catchment has proven to be successful in various countries around the world. Could it be possible that rainwater catchment will contribute to a future responsible management of this limited resource, indispensable for all living beings? We believe that rainwater has to go into an alliance with river and underground water as a fresh water resource. Brazil has a semiarid region of about 1 million km2 with serious water problems. The Organizing Committee has the pleasure to welcome representatives from all continents in the city of Petrolina, the heart of this semiarid region. For the Brazilian participants this is also the 2nd Brazilian Symposium on Rainwater Catchment. Our intent is to unite those interested in the topic of rainwater catchment, be they professionals with a vision of the future, committed politicians, or NGO and community representatives experienced with water supply programs. This way we can have a great international exchange. At the end of the conference we would like to give impetus to a program that can contribute to a sustainable management and that can diminish water scarcity in the next millennium. We thank the Organizing Committee, the authors, panelists, contributors and invited guests to the conference for their contributions.
EVERALDO ROCHA PORTO JOHANN GNADLINGER |
