| Full text | |
| Author(s): |
Lobo, Guilherme S.
;
Gil, Jorge O.
;
da Silva, Ramon F. B.
;
Moran, Emilio F.
Total Authors: 4
|
| Document type: | Journal article |
| Source: | Ecology and Society; v. 30, n. 3, p. 13-pg., 2025-01-01. |
| Abstract | |
. Hydropower development in the Amazon has accelerated under public and private incentives, aiming to promote economic growth, environmental conservation, renewable energy, and social equity within a sustainable development agenda. However, recent studies show significant negative impacts on local communities and ecosystems, raising concerns about hydropower's true contribution to sustainability. Despite increasing awareness, research has largely overlooked the downstream effects of hydropower dams. Since the Madeira Hydroelectric Complex became operational, it has introduced sub-daily flow oscillations (hydropeaking) in the Madeira River, Southwest Amazon. Although poorly understood, hydropeaking can disrupt the river's essential flood pulse, which rural riverine communities, known as ribeirinho, depend on for traditional flood recession agriculture and extractivism in the whitewater floodplains (vkrzea). These communities have long adapted their livelihoods to seasonal flood dynamics, using both low- and high-gradient vkrzea floodplains, but this downstream flow alteration may be affecting the vkrzea social-ecological system and must be investigated. To investigate hydropeaking's effects, we conducted semi-structured interviews with local experts (n = 51) of four downstream ribeirinho communities, along with hydrological and soil analyses. Our findings reveal a shift in agricultural practices, particularly in flood recession agriculture in low-vkrzea areas. Soil analysis corroborates local experts' concern about declining fertility, showing reduced phosphorus content following dam operations. Additionally, the extreme 2014 flood and expanding illegal gold mining have further diminished engagement in extractivist activities. A truly sustainable future for the Madeira River depends on revitalizing vkrzea-based value chains while preserving both ecological integrity and social resilience. We recommend establishing an independent monitoring group composed of ribeirinho communities and local scientists to assess downstream impacts on the vkrzea social-ecological system. Furthermore, targeted compensation and mitigation projects should be implemented to promote the sustainable use of vkrzea resources. (AU) | |
| FAPESP's process: | 22/13330-8 - Hydropeaking of madeira hydroelectric complex: downstream impacts on land use and forest resource use of white-water river floodplain (várzeas) |
| Grantee: | Guilherme de Sousa Lobo |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate |
| FAPESP's process: | 23/15877-7 - Multi-scale analysis of environmental changes and management practices in rural properties in the Atlantic Forest: Effects of payment for ecosystem services |
| Grantee: | Ramon Felipe Bicudo da Silva |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Young Researchers |
| FAPESP's process: | 20/07037-0 - HYDROPEAKING OF MADEIRA HYDROELECTRIC COMPLEX: DOWNSTREAM IMPACTS ON LAND USE AND FOREST RESOURCE USE OF WHITE-WATER RIVER FLOODPLAINS |
| Grantee: | Guilherme de Sousa Lobo |
| Support Opportunities: | Scholarships in Brazil - Doctorate |
| FAPESP's process: | 22/16002-1 - Multi-scale analysis of environmental changes and management practices in rural properties in the Atlantic Forest: effects of payment for ecosystem services |
| Grantee: | Ramon Felipe Bicudo da Silva |
| Support Opportunities: | Research Grants - Young Investigators Grants |
| FAPESP's process: | 19/17113-9 - After hydropower dams: social and environmental processes that occur after the construction of Belo Monte, Jirau and Santo Antônio in Brazilian Amazon |
| Grantee: | Emilio Federico Moran |
| Support Opportunities: | Research Projects - SPEC Program |