Between the vacancy offered and effective participation

Social participation in the upper Cuiabá River Basin Committee after 2020

Abstract

This article analysed whether the 2020 update of the Mato Grosso State Water Resources Policy, which included traditional communities as members of the CBHs, ensured active social participation by local groups in the Upper Cuiabá River CBH. To assess changes, meeting minutes were examined, counting and contextualising keywords indicative of social involvement, using the software AntConc v.4.1.0. The research highlights the need for mechanisms to make participation in these spaces effective, since mere formal inclusion does not guarantee a voice for the groups represented. The results show that although the mention of keywords that reflect possible social participation increased after 2020, this did not translate into effective action by traditional populations. The study opens up an important area to discuss not only access, but also the permanence and influence of these groups in decision-making arenas. From a methodological point of view, it is proposed to broaden the lexicon of analysis, incorporating terms that reflect the socio-environmental reality of the basin. The conclusion is that simply offering seats does not reflect the effective participation of these communities. Furthermore, public policies must ensure real conditions for these communities to exercise their rights in order to prevent their interests from continuing to be mediated by the voices of others.