Translating science into actions to conserve Amazonian freshwaters

Translating science into actions to conserve Amazonian freshwaters
outubro 16, 2024 Gabriela Merizalderubio

Translating science into actions to conserve Amazonian freshwaters

Link da publicação:  https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13241

Ano de publicação:  2024

Conservando la Cuenca Amazónica Aguas Amazonicas

ABSTRACT

Despite the importance of freshwater ecosystems to social-ecological systems ofthe Amazon, conservation in the region historically has focused on terrestrial ecosystems. Moreover, current information on pressing management and con-servation needs specific to freshwaters is scattered across multiple disciplinesand generally focused on particular threats, habitats, and taxa. This disparateness of information limits the ability of researchers and practitioners to set pri-orities and implement actions that comprehensively address challenges facedby freshwater ecosystems. To reduce this research-implementation gap, we reviewed the scientific literature on Amazon freshwater conservation to iden-tify pressing actions to be taken and potential directions for their implementa-tion. We identified 63 actions gleaned from 174 publications. These wereclassified into six major themes: (i) implement environmental flows,(ii) improve water quality, (iii) protect and restore critical habitats, (iv) manage exploitation of freshwater organisms, (v) prevent and control invasive species, and (vi) safeguard and restore freshwater connectivity. Although each actionmay face different implementation challenges, we propose three guiding principles to support action planning and decisions on-the-ground. We conclude with a reflection on potential future directions to place freshwaters into thecenter of policies and agreements that target the conservation of the Amazon.

Key words: Amazon Basin, aquatic ecosystems, conservation actions, conservation planning, freshwater biodiversity

 

Authors: Thiago B. A. Couto Clinton N. Jenkins Claire F. Beveridge Sebastian A. Heilpern Guido A. Herrera-R Natalia C. Piland Cecilia Gontijo Leal Jansen Zuanon Carolina R. C. Doria Mariana Montoya Mariana Varese Sandra B. Correa Michael Goulding Elizabeth P. Anderson.

Journal: Conservation Science and Practice

Cita: Couto, T. B. A., Jenkins, C. N., Beveridge, C. F., Heilpern, S. A., Herrera-R, G. A., Piland, N. C., Leal, C. G., Zuanon, J., Doria, C. R. C., Montoya, M., Varese, M., Correa, S. B., Goulding, M., & Anderson, E. P. (2024). Translating science into actions to conserve Amazonian freshwaters. Conservation Science and Practice, e13241. https://doi.org/10.1111/csp2.13241

 

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