Evaluation of the influence of public policies on the water, food and energy Nexus in the Guandu hydrographic region - Rio de Janeiro - Brazil

The Nexus approach focuses on the integrated assessment of development and management options aimed at water, energy and food (WEF) security. This article presents a methodological strategy for assessing the influence of public policies (PP) on WEF security, which was implemented in the Guandu hydrographic region (RH-II), emphasizing the municipality of Rio Claro, RJ. The methodological strategy has four stages: PP survey and systematization at different levels in a database, identification of criteria and classification of PP, selection of structuring and integrating PP, and assessment of PP. In the case of RH-II, about 43% of PP meet more than one security area. Five PP were selected as structuring and integrative and evaluated in relation to their potential impact on the WEF security in the study area. The study area was very promising for applying the Nexus approach to assess the potential impact of PP on WEF security, as it has a high percentage of forest remnants and a high demand for water and energy. These factors make WEF security a target for PP forest, soil and water restoration and conservation, and compensation mechanisms. This methodological strategy can be used in other regions or river basins of the country, to support the integrated management of WEF security