A articulação entre o planeamento territorial e sectorial: uma refexão crítica sobre os recursos hídricos

Abstract

Spatial planning is a methodological and procedural approach to implement public policies, not only through land use control but also through the preservation of land environmental values, having in mind public interest and inter-generation solidarity. Among the environmental values of land, water plays a critical role to sustain human activities and structural environmental functions. The planning instruments, spatial and
sector wise, and their cross-sectoral articulation play a decisive role in the configuration of priorities, principles and decision-making processes for the territory-water nexus. This article develops a critical discussion on how the articulation between the spatial planning and the water resources planning systems
has been encouraged in Portugal. For this purpose, the most relevant concepts are reviewed, the Portuguese fundamental legislative framework is analysed and five problems and related challenges on the articulation of the water-territory planning systems are discussed, based on the results of recent research projects.
The paper concludes with a prospective reflection questioning whether the recent regulatory instruments have brought a new impetus to the role of territorial planning for the protection of water resources or whether new efforts should be considered to enrich the dominant praxis.