Preventive Resettlement of Populations at Risk of Disaster - GFDRR

canalizing streams, and carrying out urbanization activities
alongside them. The program ended in 2008, following
an investment of approximately US$1.35 billion.
Interventions in geological risk areas
The Technical Advice Office for Works and Services of
the Municipal Secretariat for Coordination of the subdivisions
of the Mayor’s Office (subalcaldías) seeks to
control mudslides on slopes and the banks of streams.
From 2005-2008, the program carried out 202 works in
562 locations considered to be at geological risk in 20
subalcaldías.
Stream canalization
The unauthorized occupation of land on the banks of
streams in São Paulo put the low-income population
that settled there at risk. These settlements also cause
water pollution and sedimentation in the streams because
they dispose of solid waste directly into them,
which in turn, increases flooding risks.
One program designed to mitigate and reverse these
conditions was PROCAV, which began at the end of
the 1980s. It included a series of multi-faceted works
in the catchment basins of the metropolitan region and
was carried out in two stages, from 1987-1994 and from
1995-2007. It was initially estimated that the program
would take from four to five years to complete, but, due
to its complexity, it lasted 10. The US$1.05 billion investment
was used to canalize 63.3 km in 21 streams,
construct 60.4 km of roads alongside the canals, and
build eight dams.
The program involved resettling 7,544 families—2,585
from 1987-1994, and 5,137 from 1995-2007—who were
occupying the areas where the works were carried out
and where there were recurrent floods.
The resettlement solutions for those families included:
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Resettlement in three housing complexes
(benefiting 5,288 families—1,590 in the first stage
and 3,876 in the second);
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Resettlement in safe areas of the same neighborhoods
(634 families)
Cash compensation for properties whose owners
had obtained official permits and deeds, involving
1,622 families, 995 in the first stage and 627 in the
second (see Table 4.5).
Table 4.5. Number of Families Resettled during the Stream Canalization Program
First Stage
1987-1994
Second Stage
1995-2007 Total Percentage
Resettlement to housing complexes 1,590 3,876 5,288 70
Financial compensation, expropriation 995 627 1622 22
Resettlement in remaining areas of same
neighborhood 634 634 8
Total 2,585 5,137 7,544 100
Source: Archives SEHAB – GePROCAV – IDB
C. Case Study: Stream
Canalization Program II
The case study focuses on the second stage of the Stream
Canalization Program PROCAV, from 1995-2007.
1. Objectives
The objectives of the second stage of the Stream Canalization
Program included:
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Reducing the problems triggering frequent floods
along the streams by canalizing them and thus
increasing their hydraulic capacity;
Reducing the risk of mudslides caused by
destabilized construction and streets located next
to the streams;
Improving sanitary and housing conditions for
the target families by moving those at risk to
higher quality houses;
48 Preventive Resettlement of Populations at Risk of Disaster: Experiences from Latin America