WWF’s Living Amazon Initiative - Awsassets.panda

THE AMAZONTHE IMPORTANCE OF THEAMAZON BIOME2XTHE SIZE OF INDIAOVER6,600 KMTHE LENGTH OF THEAMAZON RIVER350ETHNIC GROUPS17%OF THE FOREST HASBEEN LOST IN THELAST 50 YEARSSpanning 6.7 million km2 (twice thesize of India) the Amazon Biome isvirtually unrivalled in scale, complexityand opportunity, and truly is a regiondistinguished by superlatives. Not only doesthe Amazon encompass the single largestremaining tropical rainforest in the world, it also houses at least 10%of the world’s known biodiversity, including endemic and endangeredflora and fauna, and its river accounts for 15-16% of the world’s totalriver discharge into the oceans. The Amazon River flows for morethan 6,600 km, and with its hundreds of tributaries and streamscontains the largest number of freshwater fish species in the world.Equally impressive are the unfathomable numbers of mammals,birds, amphibians, and reptiles4 found across the biome.The Amazon is home to more than 30 million people living across avast region subdivided into nine different national political systems.According to the Coordinator of Indigenous Organizations of theAmazon Basin (COICA), about 9% (2.7 million) of the Amazon’spopulation is still made up of indigenous people – 350 differentethnic groups, more than 60 of which still remain largely isolated.And yet, for all of its magnitude and apparent remoteness, theAmazon Biome is surprisingly fragile and close to each one of us.During the last half century, the seemingly endless Amazon has lostat least 17% of its forest cover, its connectivity has been increasinglydisrupted, and numerous endemic species have been subjectedto waves of resource exploitation. The economic transformationof the Amazon based on the conversion and degradation of itsnatural habitat is gaining momentum. Yet, as those forces grow instrength, we are also finding that the Amazon plays a critical role inmaintaining climate function regionally and globally, a contributionwhich everyone–rich or poor–depends on. The Amazon’s canopycover helps regulate temperature and humidity, and is intricatelylinked to regional climate patterns through hydrological cycles thatdepend on the forests. Given the enormous amount of carbon storedin the forests of the Amazon, there is tremendous potential to alterglobal climate if not properly stewarded. The Amazon contains90-140 billion metric tons of carbon, the release of even a portion ofwhich would accelerate global warming significantly. Currently, landconversion and deforestation in the Amazon release up to 0.5 billionmetric tons of carbon per year, not including emissions from forestfires, thus rendering the Amazon an important factor in regulatingglobal climate (Nepstad et al 2008).WWF’s Living Amazon Initiative page 14

WWF / GUSTAVO YBARRABrazil nut trees (Bertholletia excelsa) grow naturally in the rainforest and provide a sustainable alternative forlocal livelihoods in some regions of the Amazon.

THE AMAZONAN UNCERTAIN FUTURE:INCREASING THREATSWhile the socio-economic transformationof the Amazon generates both positive andnegative impacts, it is key to address thenegative implications of the current changesto the Amazon for both the people living inthe Amazon and outside. It is imperative tounderstand what is driving these processes, and what opportunitiesfor change are within reach.Given the many dynamics at play in a region as enormous as theAmazon, an effort has been made to identify the human-inducedprocesses which have the greatest impact on the biome as a whole.These we refer to as direct threats.This section does not pretend to be an exhaustive account ofeverything that is happening in the Amazon. Rather, it seeks toreveal the major issues and their interactions to enable strategicdecisions to be made on how to maximize sustainable use andconservation in the Amazon Biome.Figure 2. Deforestationin the Amazon Biomebased on data from 2009for Brazil and 2007-2008for the other countries.Vanishing forestsExtensive cattle ranching accounts for 80% of current deforestation, whileagriculture is largely responsible for the rest (Nepstad et al. 2008).The vast majority of the deforestation can be found in the easternand southeastern part of the Amazon (Brazil) in the so-called Arc ofDeforestation, and the Northwestern brim of the Basin’s headwaters,primarily in Colombia and Ecuador.WWF’s Living Amazon Initiative page 16

ANDRE BÄRTSCHI / WWF - CANONDeforestation for agriculture and cattle ranching is an increasing threat throughout the Amazon Biome.

THE AMAZONMAIN THREATSUnsustainable CattleRanching80%OF DEFORESTEDAREAS OF THEAMAZON AREOCCUPIED BY CATTLEPASTURESHabitat conversion, commonly referred to as deforestation,5 liesat the crux of what is shaping the future of the Amazon Biome.Extensive cattle ranching is the number one culprit of deforestationin virtually every Amazon country, and it accounts for 80% ofcurrent deforestation (Nepstad et al. 2008). Alone, the deforestationcaused by cattle ranching is responsible for the release of 340 milliontons of carbon to the atmosphere every year, equivalent to 3.4% ofcurrent global emissions. Beyond forest conversion, cattle pasturesincrease the risk of fire and are a significant degrader of riparianand aquatic ecosystems, causing soil erosion, river siltation andcontamination with organic matter. Trends indicate that livestockproduction is expanding in the oAmazonasParaSan MartinUcayaliAcreTocantinsRondoniaPandoMadre de DiosFigure 3. Number ofheads of cattle in thestates of the BrazilianAmazon and thedepartments of theBolivian and PeruvianAmazon.Mato GrosoEl BeniBolivia0 - 0.4 M0.4 - 1.6 MCATTLE HEADS(M Millions)Santa Cruz1.6 - 4.5 M4.5 - 11 M11 - 20 M(Adapted from Nepstad et al. 2008)Brazil has 88% of the Amazon herd, followed by Peru and Bolivia.While grazing densities vary among livestock production systemsand countries, extensive, low productivity, systems with less thanone animal unit per hectare of pasture are the dominant form ofcattle ranching in the Amazon.WWF’s Living Amazon Initiative page 18

MARK EDWARDS / WWF - CANONBurning forests to create grasslands for cattle is one of the most widespread threats to the Amazon.

THE AMAZONMAIN THREATSMechanized AgricultureexpansionAgriculture is the second main cause of forest conversion in theAmazon. In addition to deforestation, agricultural practices tend tocause significant soil erosion and river siltation, as well as aquaticcontamination with agrochemicals. Agriculture in the Amazon isextremely diverse. While small-scale agriculture can have significantcumulative impact in some Amazonian ecosystems, it is the largescale agro-industrial sectors, with trends of rapid expansion in theAmazon, that are of most concern.Brazil has 67% of the crop area of the Amazon, followed by Peru(14%) and Bolivia (9%) (Nepstad et al. 2008). Soy production in theBrazilian Amazon tripled from 1990 to 2006. Other crops such assugar cane and palm oil for biofuels, as well as cotton and rice, areexpanding as well.The livestock and agriculture sectors do not exist in isolation fromeach other. Rather, they are linked in two primary ways: they act asmutual enablers to access land within the Amazon, and they supporteach other through integrated value chains.Figure 4. Brazil has mostof the crop area of theAmazon, followed by Peruand BoliviaBrazil67%Peru14%Bolivia9%Others10%(Adapted from Nepstad et al. 2008)WWF’s Living Amazon Initiative page 20

KJELD NIELSENIn several regions in the Amazon large extensions of rainforest have already been replaced by agriculture.

THE AMAZONMAIN THREATSPoorly planned InfrastructureNEW PLANS AREPROPOSED FOR LARGEDAMS ON THE MAINTRIBUTARIES OF THEAMAZON RIVERTransportation and energy infrastructure are essential for nationaland regional development, but when poorly planned, the negativeimpacts can exceed the short-term benefits.In the Amazon, the building of new roads or improvement ofexisting roads has facilitated uncontrolled migration to otherwiseinaccessible areas with the result of increased land-grabbing,deforestation, and expansion of unsustainable extractive activities.Dam construction entails a major disruption to river connectivitythrough fragmentation and altering the natural flow patterns ofwater, sediments and nutrients. It also interferes with the rangesof aquatic species, including subsistence and commercial fisheries.Dams often require the creation of large reservoirs which causeflooding - sometimes of areas of natural, cultural and economicimportance - and displacement of original inhabitants. Thedisruption caused to flooding patterns downstream of dams affectsthe natural productivity of floodplains.Both IIRSA (Initiative for the Regional Integration of Infrastructurein South America) and the Brazilian Growth Acceleration Planenvision the construction of numerous large dams, including in someof the main tributaries of the Amazon River that, until recently, havenever been dammed.WWF’s Living Amazon Initiative page 22

BRENT STIRTON / GETTY IMAGES / WWFNew roads are built and paved in the Amazon every day, providing access to previously remote fragile ecosystems.

THE AMAZONMAIN THREATSOther extractive activitiesIn addition to the larger threats described previously there area series of additional extractive activities that, when improperlyplanned, can cause significant damage at local or landscape scalesand/or magnify the other larger threats. Gold mining. The most common form of gold mining in theAmazon is conducted by small-scale miners with rudimentarytechnology and important cumulative impacts in specific areas ofthe Amazon, together with serious effects on human health. Inaddition to the devastation of landscape removal and watercontamination, the enormous energy needs of the industrialmining and ore processing industries create a demand whichdrives deforestation for charcoal fuel and damming of rivers forhydropower. Oil. The most severe direct environmental impacts of hydrocarbonexploration and exploitation include oil or gas spills and theimproper discharge of the salt-laden waters used to process thecrude oil, all of which can cause devastating long-term impacts onthe health of local inhabitants and ecosystems. Illegal logging. People living in or around forests have beenusing timber for centuries to satisfy basic needs (fuel, construction)and to generate income to sustain their livelihoods. Done properly,logging can be a sustainable form of using the goods and servicesprovided by forest ecosystems, by letting them recover after ourinterventions. Sadly, around the world, high demand for timberproducts, weak rule of law, and poorly implemented trade rulesare leading to logging that destroys nature and wildlife, damagescommunities, and distorts trade. A number of agreements, fora,and conventions have attempted to deal with the problem – yetillegal logging6 still persists.This threat in the Amazon is degrading large areas of naturalforest leading to loss of habitat and species (biodiversity). Theselosses decrease livelihood opportunities for forest-dwellingcommunities, promote forest fires, increase carbon emissions andinduce harmful changes in hydrological patterns. Overexploitation of aquatic resources. Paiche or pirarucu(Arapaima gigas), caimans (Paleosuchus and Melanosuchus sp.),and river turtles (Podocnemis expansa) are some of the aquaticspecies historically affected by over-harvesting for food, leather,eggs and shells. Some other beautiful or rare species are target ofthe aquarium trade.WWF’s Living Amazon Initiative page 24

EDWARD PARKER / WWF - CANON :: BRENT STIRTON / GETTY IMAGES / WWF :: ANDRE BÄRTSCHI / WWF - CANON :: JUAN PRATGINESTOS / WWF - CANONFrom top to bottom; (1) informal gold mining destroys forests, erodes river banks and seriously contaminatesfreshwater sources; (2) oil pollution; (3) illegal logging degrades the rainforest and provides access for otherextractive activities; (4) commercially valuable fish species have already disappeared in some regions due toover-exploitation.

THE AMAZONMAIN THREATSClimate ChangeAs habitat destruction trends interact with climate change, theconcern is that the Amazon will be caught up in a set of “negativefeedback loops” that could dramatically speed up the pace of forestlost and degradation and bring the Amazon Biome to a point of noreturn. This threshold, also referred to as a tipping point, may occurwhen Amazonian forests die and are progressively replaced by fireprone brush and savanna (ecological tipping point), and rainfall isinhibited on a regional scale (climatic tipping point).Figure 5. Soil moisturelevels across the Amazonduring four periodsof severe drought.(Nepstad, 2008).% Plant-availablewater (PAW)0 - 10%10 - 20%20 - 30%30 - 40%40 - 50%50 - 60%60 - 70%70 - 80%80 - 90%90 - 100%The climate and deforestation-driven substitution of forests tosavanna-like and semiarid vegetation has been dubbed the Amazonforests’ “die back” (Cox et al. 2000, Cox et al. 2004; Nobre et al. 1991;Oyama and Nobre 2003). While there is still debate among scientistsabout this concept, some climate-simulation vegetation modelspredict that such a die-back could occur by the end of this century.For some scientists (Nepstad, 2008), however, this timeframe maybe optimistic as these models do not include land-use change or thesynergistic effects of deforestation and regional climate change. Ifthese factors were taken into account, we could face a dire scenario inwhich current trends in livestock, agriculture, logging expansion, fireand drought could destroy or severely damage 55% of the Amazonrainforest by the year 2030 (Nepstad 2008).WWF’s Living Amazon Initiative page 26

BRENT STIRTON / GETTY IMAGES / WWFForest fires, fueled by climate change, represent an increasing threat to the Amazon.

THE AMAZONSTAKEHOLDERSGiven the global scope of the Amazon’senvironmental contributions, there is ashared responsibility by all humankindfor its conservation, a responsibility thatmust be attended while respecting the sovereignty of the people ofthe Amazonian countries who have the ultimate responsibility forleading the efforts to conserve and sustainably use the Amazon.The range of stakeholders that need to be involved in a strategy toconserve and sustainably use the Amazon include: Governments (at all levels) Indigenous organizations (from regional to community level) Grass roots and other civil society organizations Regional organizations Bilateral and multilateral agencies Banks and investors Local and global corporate sector Businesses and productive sector associations Private donors Academic and scientific organizations Non- governmental organizationsWWF’s Living Amazon Initiative page 28

WWF / EDUARDO RUIZ :: ZIG KOCH / WWF :: NIGEL DICKINSON / WWF - CANON :: BRENT STIRTON / GETTY IMAGES / WWFFrom top to bottom, whether it is; (1) a local dweller harvesting rubber in Bolivia; (2) a couple of villagers in theTumucumaque National Park in Brazil; (3) an informal gold miner in Venezuela; (4) children in Lima, Peru andhundreds of cities throughout the region; or peoples and authorities in Europe or North America, the global reachof the Amazon contributions to humankind makes it necessary to work on equally globally-oriented solutions toits threats.

FOR A LIVINGAMAZONGreen winged macaws (Ara chloroptera) at a clay lick in EasternPeru.

ANDRE BÄRTSCHI / WWF - CANON

FOR A LIVING AMAZONWWF’S WORK IN THEAMAZON TO DATEWWFWORK INCLUDESPARTICIPATION IN THECREATIONOF KEY PROTECTEDAREASWWF has a long and rich history ofinvolvement in the Amazon, beginning over40 years ago. From its initial site-based andresearch projects in the 1960s, WWF has,over the years, expanded its work to includespecies research and scientific analyses,local institutional capacity building, policy development and reform,support for the designation and improved management of protectedareas, certified forestry and forest management, environmentaleducation, promotion of better management practices for productiveactivities (forestry, fisheries, etc.), and creation of alternative sourcesof income for local communities.WWF work in the Amazon includes participation in the creationof a number of important protected areas including Peru’s ManuNational Park in 1973, Bolivia’s Pilon Lajas National Park in 1976,French Guiana’s Amazonian Park in 2007, and Colombia’s YaigojeApaporis National Park in 2009. In Brazil, WWF was instrumental inthe conception and subsequent implementation of the Government’sprimary mechanism for creation and consolidation of protectedareas in the Brazilian Amazon: the Amazon Region Protected Areasprogram (ARPA)7 launched in 2002.WWF has a strong institutional presence in 8 of the 9 Amazoniancountries, and a review of the organization’s experience to dateunderscores the scope and breadth of the relationships that we havedeveloped with numerous partners over the years. WWF has strivedto develop relationships with local, state and national governmentsin every country where we work, and has also invested resources,time and energy into lasting partnerships with local NGOs, civilsociety groups and the private sector. Going forward, we see thesepartnerships and relationships as one of the most critical factorsin determining our success and ability to implement the broad andambitious objectives of the WWF Living Amazon Initiative.WWF’s Living Amazon Initiative page 32

Built on the conviction that the fate ofhumanity is inseparable from the fate ofthe Amazon, and that humanity has withinits reach the means to ensure a prosperouslife for all without destroying the AmazonBiome’s natural endowments upon whichour collective well-being is based, WWF’s proposed vision for theAmazon is:“An ecologically healthy Amazon Biomethat maintains its environmental andcultural contributions to local peoples,the countries of the region, and the world,within a framework of social equity,inclusive economic development and globalresponsibility” ZIG KOCH / WWFWWF’S VISION FOR THEAMAZON

FOR A LIVING AMAZONWHAT WE NEED TOACHIEVE: CONSERVATIONTARGETS AND GOALSOver the past 50 years, 17 % of the Amazonhabitat has been lost due to human-inducedprocesses. Given this rate of habitat loss anddegradation, the question of what needs tobe conserved in the Amazon Biome is morecritical than ever if this ecological system isto continue to provide its bountiful goods andservices to the multitude of species that makethe Amazon their home, its local residents, the region’s, countries andthe world.WWF has defined a set of conservation targets that embody theecological attributes and functions that are most critical to maintainingthe functionality of the Amazon Biome, together with correspondingconservation goals that lay out our desired status for the Biome by2030.CONSERVATIONTARGETS2030CONSERVATION GOALSThe diversity of terrestrialand aquatic ecologicalsystems found in theAmazon BiomeThe diversity of terrestrial andfreshwater ecosystems8 of the AmazonBiome is conserved9 to ensure thesurvival of the species that livethere and the continued provision ofenvironmental goods and servicesto local peoples, the countries of theregion, and the world.The natural flow regimes thatmaintain aquatic connectivityand dictate the pulse of thelargest river basin on theplanetThe quality, quantity, and timing offlow regimes in priority 10 rivers andtheir headwaters are maintained atlevels that ensure the integrity ofaquatic ecosystems and the continuedprovision of ecological services thatsustain local livelihoods and regionaleconomies.Global and regional climateregulation role of the AmazonBiomeThe region’s political andins

Colombia, Venezuela, Guyana and Suriname), as well as the overseas territory of French Guiana. For the characterization of the Amazon’s freshwater biodiversity and hydrological processes, however, the study area was expanded beyond the biome to include complete watersheds which sometimes include adjacent biomes (dry forest, cerrado and puna). 6.7