Bilateral Relations

Canada — Brazil

In November 1996, the Government of Canada and the Government of the Federative Republic of Brazil signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) on Environmental and Sustainable Development Consultations and Cooperation. The MOU provides for senior officials' environmental policy consultations and for the establishment of a cooperative work program on sound environmental technologies and their application.

A Letter of Intent on the implementation of the Watershed Management 2000 project was also signed in November 1996. The project addressed two main priorities: the development and application of an integrated computer-based decision support system to guide the management of the watershed of the Piracicaba River, northwest of São Paulo, and improvement of sewage and sludge management in the Metropolitan São Paulo Region.

Environment Canada’s trade mission to Brazil in November 1996 was followed by President Cardoso’s largest Brazilian business delegation ever in April 1997. Events included a panel on the environment at the Ontario Science Centre and a luncheon hosted by the Canada-Brazil Chamber of Commerce.

Environment Canada has entered into a bilateral agreement with Brazil under the Multilateral Fund of the Montreal Protocol for Halon Recycling and Bank Management. A Canadian halon banking specialist assisted the Brazilians to set up a halon reduction and banking strategy, and the halon recovery and reconditioning equipment was provided by a Canadian company.

Project Implementation

IRD's Americas Branch is the coordinator for the implementation of the MOU and ETAD was responsible for the Watershed Management 2000 project.

Illustration of Work

Under the Watershed Management 2000 project (June 1997-December 2000) more than fifty missions, involving over 170 people have taken place in Brazil and Canada. Project activities have focused on technical workshops and exchanges in the areas of stakeholder consultation, water and wastewater laboratory techniques, operator training, and action plan preparation. Pilot projects in the areas of wastewater treatment plant optimization, sludge management, watershed action planning and the design of a decision support system have been initiated.

Results achieved to date include the following:

• the preparation of a comprehensive technical report outlining watershed management issues in the Atibaia sub-basin;
• negotiation and implementation of a pollution prevention program for the ceramic industry in the Corumbataí sub-basin using multi-stakeholder watershed and land use planning processes;
• the ISO Guide 25 certification of five laboratories at the Brazilian partner institutions;
• the optimization of São Paulo’s flagship wastewater treatment plant which will serve as a model for the optimization of three other treatment plants in São Paulo, reducing operational costs, while increasing efficiency and effluent quality.