In the last 20 years, in semi-arid Brazil, rural communities have begun to use water management technologies for households, in agriculture, livestock raising, and the environment, such as cisterns, subsurface dams, conservation methods of soil humidity, and aquifer recharge. These communities were also prepared to deal successfully with the severe drought from 2011 to 2013. To contribute to living with the challenge of droughts and climate change in the future, these experiences are multiplied all over semi-arid Brazil and included in an overall management programme with a sustainable comprehensive structure. The so-called principles of living with the semi-arid climate are summarized into different guidelines for sustainable livelihood and production: access to water and sufficient land area; rainwater harvesting to provide water security to households and communities; preservation, recovering, and management of drought-resistant vegetation; emphases on raising of small and medium-sized livestock and water and forage storage; appropriate crop selection and sustainable extraction, processing and marketing of crop products; and capacity building of the people. All these initiatives should contribute to bringing the discussion about the ‘National Policy on Living with the Semi-arid Conditions’ to the National Congress of Brazil.

ASA (2013) ‘Knowledge that comes from the land’ [video in English] Recife, PE, Brazil <www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVXFUJePGxc≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVXFUJePGxc

Assembleia Legislativa de Pernambuco (2013) Lei Ordinária No 1295/2013 Política Estadual de Convivência com o Semiárido (Law of State Policy of Living with the Semi-arid Climate) (in Portuguese) [online] <www.alepe.pe.gov.br/paginas/verprojeto.php?paginapai=3597&numero =1295/2013&docid=FB411BB31071C21C03257B1A0054E3EF≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.alepe.pe.gov.br/paginas/verprojeto.php?paginapai=3597&numero =1295/2013&docid=FB411BB31071C21C03257B1A0054E3EF

EMBRAPA (2000) Agro-Ecological Zoning of the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region [website] Brasilia (in Portuguese) <www.uep.cnps.embrapa.br/zoneamentos_zane.php≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.uep.cnps.embrapa.br/zoneamentos_zane.php

Fishman, C. (2012) ‘Don't waste the drought’, New York Times, 16 August 2012 [online] <www.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/opinion/dont-waste-this-drought.html?_r=0≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/opinion/dont-waste-this-drought.html?_r=0

Globo Rural (2013) Forte seca prejudica safra de milho no Nordeste (Severe Drought Affects Corn Harvest in Northeast Brazil) [TV programme] 10 March 2013 (in Portuguese). <http://globotv.globo.com/rede-globo/globo-rural/t/edicoes/v/forte-seca-prejudica-safra-de-milho-nonordeste/2450281/≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. http://globotv.globo.com/rede-globo/globo-rural/t/edicoes/v/forte-seca-prejudica-safra-de-milho-nonordeste/2450281/

Gnadlinger, J. (2006) ‘Community water action in semi-arid Brazil: an outline of the factors for success’, Official Delegate Publication of the 4th World Water Forum, Mexico City, 16-22 March 2006, pp. 150-8 [pdf] <http://webmirror.flamble.co.uk/downloads/wwf3.pdf≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. http://webmirror.flamble.co.uk/downloads/wwf3.pdf

Gnadlinger, J. (2011) ‘Rainwater catchment and management in the rural area of semi-arid Brazil for climate adaptation: current practice, policy and institutional aspects’, International Journal of Rainwater Catchment Systems 1: 3-15.

IRPAA (Regional Institute for Appropriate Small Scale Agriculture) (2012) Seca no Semiárido? (Drought in Semi-arid Brazil?) (in Portuguese) [pdf] <www.irpaa.org/publicacoes/artigos/seca-nosemiarido.pdf≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.irpaa.org/publicacoes/artigos/seca-nosemiarido.pdf

National Institute of the Semiarid Region (INSA) (2012) Synopsis of the Demographic Census for Semiarid Brazil [pdf], Campina Grande, Brazil (in Portuguese) <www.insa.gov.br/censosab/publicacao/sinopse.pdf≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.insa.gov.br/censosab/publicacao/sinopse.pdf

Nobre, C.A., Oyama, M.D., Sampaio, G.O., Marengo, J.A. and Salati, E. (2004) ‘Impact of climate change scenarios for 2100 on the biomes of South America’, International Clivar Science Conference, 1, Baltimore, MD [pdf] <http://mtc-m15.sid.inpe.br/rep-/cptec.inpe.br/walmeida/2004/12.22.11.08≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. http://mtc-m15.sid.inpe.br/rep-/cptec.inpe.br/walmeida/2004/12.22.11.08

Presidency of Brazil (1997) ‘Brazilian Water Right’, Law No 9,433, Art. 1, III, published 8 January 1997 [website], Brasilia, Brazil (in Portuguese) <www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/Leis/L9433.htm≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/Leis/L9433.htm

ASA (2013) ‘Knowledge that comes from the land’ [video in English] Recife, PE, Brazil <www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVXFUJePGxc≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVXFUJePGxc

Assembleia Legislativa de Pernambuco (2013) Lei Ordinária No 1295/2013 Política Estadual de Convivência com o Semiárido (Law of State Policy of Living with the Semi-arid Climate) (in Portuguese) [online] <www.alepe.pe.gov.br/paginas/verprojeto.php?paginapai=3597&numero =1295/2013&docid=FB411BB31071C21C03257B1A0054E3EF≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.alepe.pe.gov.br/paginas/verprojeto.php?paginapai=3597&numero =1295/2013&docid=FB411BB31071C21C03257B1A0054E3EF

EMBRAPA (2000) Agro-Ecological Zoning of the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region [website] Brasilia (in Portuguese) <www.uep.cnps.embrapa.br/zoneamentos_zane.php≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.uep.cnps.embrapa.br/zoneamentos_zane.php

Fishman, C. (2012) ‘Don't waste the drought’, New York Times, 16 August 2012 [online] <www.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/opinion/dont-waste-this-drought.html?_r=0≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/opinion/dont-waste-this-drought.html?_r=0

Globo Rural (2013) Forte seca prejudica safra de milho no Nordeste (Severe Drought Affects Corn Harvest in Northeast Brazil) [TV programme] 10 March 2013 (in Portuguese). <http://globotv.globo.com/rede-globo/globo-rural/t/edicoes/v/forte-seca-prejudica-safra-de-milho-nonordeste/2450281/≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. http://globotv.globo.com/rede-globo/globo-rural/t/edicoes/v/forte-seca-prejudica-safra-de-milho-nonordeste/2450281/

Gnadlinger, J. (2006) ‘Community water action in semi-arid Brazil: an outline of the factors for success’, Official Delegate Publication of the 4th World Water Forum, Mexico City, 16-22 March 2006, pp. 150-8 [pdf] <http://webmirror.flamble.co.uk/downloads/wwf3.pdf≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. http://webmirror.flamble.co.uk/downloads/wwf3.pdf

Gnadlinger, J. (2011) ‘Rainwater catchment and management in the rural area of semi-arid Brazil for climate adaptation: current practice, policy and institutional aspects’, International Journal of Rainwater Catchment Systems 1: 3-15.

IRPAA (Regional Institute for Appropriate Small Scale Agriculture) (2012) Seca no Semiárido? (Drought in Semi-arid Brazil?) (in Portuguese) [pdf] <www.irpaa.org/publicacoes/artigos/seca-nosemiarido.pdf≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.irpaa.org/publicacoes/artigos/seca-nosemiarido.pdf

National Institute of the Semiarid Region (INSA) (2012) Synopsis of the Demographic Census for Semiarid Brazil [pdf], Campina Grande, Brazil (in Portuguese) <www.insa.gov.br/censosab/publicacao/sinopse.pdf≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.insa.gov.br/censosab/publicacao/sinopse.pdf

Nobre, C.A., Oyama, M.D., Sampaio, G.O., Marengo, J.A. and Salati, E. (2004) ‘Impact of climate change scenarios for 2100 on the biomes of South America’, International Clivar Science Conference, 1, Baltimore, MD [pdf] <http://mtc-m15.sid.inpe.br/rep-/cptec.inpe.br/walmeida/2004/12.22.11.08≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. http://mtc-m15.sid.inpe.br/rep-/cptec.inpe.br/walmeida/2004/12.22.11.08

Presidency of Brazil (1997) ‘Brazilian Water Right’, Law No 9,433, Art. 1, III, published 8 January 1997 [website], Brasilia, Brazil (in Portuguese) <www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/Leis/L9433.htm≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/Leis/L9433.htm

ASA (2013) ‘Knowledge that comes from the land’ [video in English] Recife, PE, Brazil <www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVXFUJePGxc≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVXFUJePGxc

Assembleia Legislativa de Pernambuco (2013) Lei Ordinária No 1295/2013 Política Estadual de Convivência com o Semiárido (Law of State Policy of Living with the Semi-arid Climate) (in Portuguese) [online] <www.alepe.pe.gov.br/paginas/verprojeto.php?paginapai=3597&numero =1295/2013&docid=FB411BB31071C21C03257B1A0054E3EF≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.alepe.pe.gov.br/paginas/verprojeto.php?paginapai=3597&numero =1295/2013&docid=FB411BB31071C21C03257B1A0054E3EF

EMBRAPA (2000) Agro-Ecological Zoning of the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region [website] Brasilia (in Portuguese) <www.uep.cnps.embrapa.br/zoneamentos_zane.php≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.uep.cnps.embrapa.br/zoneamentos_zane.php

Fishman, C. (2012) ‘Don't waste the drought’, New York Times, 16 August 2012 [online] <www.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/opinion/dont-waste-this-drought.html?_r=0≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/opinion/dont-waste-this-drought.html?_r=0

Globo Rural (2013) Forte seca prejudica safra de milho no Nordeste (Severe Drought Affects Corn Harvest in Northeast Brazil) [TV programme] 10 March 2013 (in Portuguese). <http://globotv.globo.com/rede-globo/globo-rural/t/edicoes/v/forte-seca-prejudica-safra-de-milho-nonordeste/2450281/≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. http://globotv.globo.com/rede-globo/globo-rural/t/edicoes/v/forte-seca-prejudica-safra-de-milho-nonordeste/2450281/

Gnadlinger, J. (2006) ‘Community water action in semi-arid Brazil: an outline of the factors for success’, Official Delegate Publication of the 4th World Water Forum, Mexico City, 16-22 March 2006, pp. 150-8 [pdf] <http://webmirror.flamble.co.uk/downloads/wwf3.pdf≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. http://webmirror.flamble.co.uk/downloads/wwf3.pdf

Gnadlinger, J. (2011) ‘Rainwater catchment and management in the rural area of semi-arid Brazil for climate adaptation: current practice, policy and institutional aspects’, International Journal of Rainwater Catchment Systems 1: 3-15.

IRPAA (Regional Institute for Appropriate Small Scale Agriculture) (2012) Seca no Semiárido? (Drought in Semi-arid Brazil?) (in Portuguese) [pdf] <www.irpaa.org/publicacoes/artigos/seca-nosemiarido.pdf≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.irpaa.org/publicacoes/artigos/seca-nosemiarido.pdf

National Institute of the Semiarid Region (INSA) (2012) Synopsis of the Demographic Census for Semiarid Brazil [pdf], Campina Grande, Brazil (in Portuguese) <www.insa.gov.br/censosab/publicacao/sinopse.pdf≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.insa.gov.br/censosab/publicacao/sinopse.pdf

Nobre, C.A., Oyama, M.D., Sampaio, G.O., Marengo, J.A. and Salati, E. (2004) ‘Impact of climate change scenarios for 2100 on the biomes of South America’, International Clivar Science Conference, 1, Baltimore, MD [pdf] <http://mtc-m15.sid.inpe.br/rep-/cptec.inpe.br/walmeida/2004/12.22.11.08≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. http://mtc-m15.sid.inpe.br/rep-/cptec.inpe.br/walmeida/2004/12.22.11.08

Presidency of Brazil (1997) ‘Brazilian Water Right’, Law No 9,433, Art. 1, III, published 8 January 1997 [website], Brasilia, Brazil (in Portuguese) <www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/Leis/L9433.htm≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/Leis/L9433.htm

ASA (2013) ‘Knowledge that comes from the land’ [video in English] Recife, PE, Brazil <www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVXFUJePGxc≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.youtube.com/watch?v=PVXFUJePGxc

Assembleia Legislativa de Pernambuco (2013) Lei Ordinária No 1295/2013 Política Estadual de Convivência com o Semiárido (Law of State Policy of Living with the Semi-arid Climate) (in Portuguese) [online] <www.alepe.pe.gov.br/paginas/verprojeto.php?paginapai=3597&numero =1295/2013&docid=FB411BB31071C21C03257B1A0054E3EF≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.alepe.pe.gov.br/paginas/verprojeto.php?paginapai=3597&numero =1295/2013&docid=FB411BB31071C21C03257B1A0054E3EF

EMBRAPA (2000) Agro-Ecological Zoning of the Brazilian Semi-Arid Region [website] Brasilia (in Portuguese) <www.uep.cnps.embrapa.br/zoneamentos_zane.php≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.uep.cnps.embrapa.br/zoneamentos_zane.php

Fishman, C. (2012) ‘Don't waste the drought’, New York Times, 16 August 2012 [online] <www.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/opinion/dont-waste-this-drought.html?_r=0≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.nytimes.com/2012/08/17/opinion/dont-waste-this-drought.html?_r=0

Globo Rural (2013) Forte seca prejudica safra de milho no Nordeste (Severe Drought Affects Corn Harvest in Northeast Brazil) [TV programme] 10 March 2013 (in Portuguese). <http://globotv.globo.com/rede-globo/globo-rural/t/edicoes/v/forte-seca-prejudica-safra-de-milho-nonordeste/2450281/≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. http://globotv.globo.com/rede-globo/globo-rural/t/edicoes/v/forte-seca-prejudica-safra-de-milho-nonordeste/2450281/

Gnadlinger, J. (2006) ‘Community water action in semi-arid Brazil: an outline of the factors for success’, Official Delegate Publication of the 4th World Water Forum, Mexico City, 16-22 March 2006, pp. 150-8 [pdf] <http://webmirror.flamble.co.uk/downloads/wwf3.pdf≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. http://webmirror.flamble.co.uk/downloads/wwf3.pdf

Gnadlinger, J. (2011) ‘Rainwater catchment and management in the rural area of semi-arid Brazil for climate adaptation: current practice, policy and institutional aspects’, International Journal of Rainwater Catchment Systems 1: 3-15.

IRPAA (Regional Institute for Appropriate Small Scale Agriculture) (2012) Seca no Semiárido? (Drought in Semi-arid Brazil?) (in Portuguese) [pdf] <www.irpaa.org/publicacoes/artigos/seca-nosemiarido.pdf≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.irpaa.org/publicacoes/artigos/seca-nosemiarido.pdf

National Institute of the Semiarid Region (INSA) (2012) Synopsis of the Demographic Census for Semiarid Brazil [pdf], Campina Grande, Brazil (in Portuguese) <www.insa.gov.br/censosab/publicacao/sinopse.pdf≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.insa.gov.br/censosab/publicacao/sinopse.pdf

Nobre, C.A., Oyama, M.D., Sampaio, G.O., Marengo, J.A. and Salati, E. (2004) ‘Impact of climate change scenarios for 2100 on the biomes of South America’, International Clivar Science Conference, 1, Baltimore, MD [pdf] <http://mtc-m15.sid.inpe.br/rep-/cptec.inpe.br/walmeida/2004/12.22.11.08≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. http://mtc-m15.sid.inpe.br/rep-/cptec.inpe.br/walmeida/2004/12.22.11.08

Presidency of Brazil (1997) ‘Brazilian Water Right’, Law No 9,433, Art. 1, III, published 8 January 1997 [website], Brasilia, Brazil (in Portuguese) <www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/Leis/L9433.htm≯ [accessed 27 March 2014]. www.planalto.gov.br/ccivil_03/Leis/L9433.htm