Diagnóstico de bacias hidrográficas para a sustentabilidade - diagnóstico rápido participativo como estratégia de mobilização para a gestão integrada e participativa no Estado do Rio de Janeiro, com ênfase na região da Foz do Rio Paraíba do Sul

The objective of this article is to relate the final results of several workshops conducted during 2008, which integrated the Course for social representations in the northern region of Rio de Janeiro State in hydrographic basins management. Rapid Participative Diagnosis was employed to evaluate environmental, social technical and political problems conflicts and potentialities related to the management of water resources in the Paraiba do Sul Basin estuary. The results, obtained during workshops realized with Basin Committee members of the Ninth Hydrographic Region of Rio de Janeiro State, Brasil (RH IX) pointed out the need for improving interinstitutional transescalars connections among Paraiba do Sul Basin's Federal Committee (CEIVAP) and State Committee (Low Paraiba do Sul River Committee), as well as stimulating collective consensus on reference conditions for the elaboration a The Basin Director Plan which contemplates Rio de Janeiro's representations' needs. It was also depicted that the valuing of environmental services, as well as implementation of integrated hydric resources monitoring systems can be regarded as important strategies for guiding Public Policies and improving environmental quality, not only for the RH IX, but also for all Rio de Janeiro's Hydrographic Regions. Flood control related emergency measures were picked out as priority.