Policy Brief: Conserving the Amazon’s Freshwater Ecosystems’ Health and Connectivity
Publication link: https://www.theamazonwewant.org/spa_publication/pb-water-health-and-connectivity/
Publication Year: 2024
SPA POLICY BRIEF ON FRESHWATER ECOSYSTEMS
Policy brief from the Science Panel for the Amazon that highlights the importance of freshwater ecosystems in the Amazon and the vital services they provide and makes recommendations for conserving these habitats.
The Amazon Basin plays a pivotal role in hydrological cycling, recycling 24% to 35% of its water annually and contributing significantly to continental rainfall through ‘aerial rivers’ that transport 6,400 km³ of water each year. This basin also discharges an average of 1,122 megatons (Mt) of suspended sediments annually, crucial for soil fertility and Atlantic Ocean ecosystem function and services, such as fisheries. Additionally, the region’s freshwater ecosystems boast remarkable biodiversity, with approximately 2,700 fish species, from which 1,696 are endemic. These ecosystems are vital for the livelihoods of Amazonian communities, where daily per-capita fish consumption can exceed 500 g, one of the highest rates globally.
Authors:
Andrea C. Encalada: Universidad San Francisco de Quito, Instituto BIOSFERA, Laboratorio de Ecología Acuática
Adalberto L. Val: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA), Coordenação de Biodiversidade, Laboratório de Ecofisiologia e Evolução Molecular.
Simone Athayde: Florida International University, Department of global and Sociocultural Studies.
Jhan Carlo espinoza: Directeur de Recherche, Institut de Recherche pour le Developement (IRD).
Marcia Macedo: Woodwell Climate Research Center.
Mirian Marmontel: Instituto de Desenvolvimento Sustentável Mamirauá.
Guido Miranda: Wildlife Conservation Society Bolivia
Maria Tereza Fernandez Piedade: Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas da Amazônia (INPA),
Tiago da Mota e Silva: Postdoctoral Internship. Laboratório de Ecofisiologia e Evolução Molecular.
Julia Arieira: Science Panel for the Amazon (SPA)