The Amazon River Basin It stands out as the largest on the planet, covering territories of up to eight countries and approximately 7,8 million square kilometersThis region is home to one of the greatest biological and cultural diversities in the world, playing a crucial role in regulating the climate and maintaining natural cycles.
However, The Biodiversity and the socio-environmental diversity present in the Amazon are under threat. Factors such as deforestation, fires, mining and infrastructure expansion pose increasingly serious risks to the integrity of its ecosystems and the life of the communities that inhabit it.
A recent international study, with the participation of the Royal Botanical Garden (RJB) of the CSIC, has shed light on the importance of indigenous territories and protected areas in the conservation of ecological connectivity in the Amazon Basin. The work, published in the journal PNAS, analyzes how these zones contribute to maintaining the ecological flows necessary for the survival of species and the functioning of natural processes.
Researcher Jesús Muñoz, from the CSIC, explains that Human activities have begun to disrupt connectivity between Amazonian ecosystemsThis negatively impacts the health of natural systems, hampering the movement of organisms and the development of essential processes such as seed dispersal, species migration, and the flow of water and nutrients.
Remote sensing, key in threat analysis
Through Remote sensing data obtained by the Amazonian Georeferenced Socio-Environmental Information Network (RAISG) Between 2016 and 2023, the team of researchers mapped the degree of connectivity in four major types of Amazonian ecosystems: terra firme forests, flooded forests, rivers, and tropical Andean forests. To do so, they analyzed the impacts of six main human activities: dam construction, deforestation, fires, legal and illegal mining, hydrocarbon extraction and roads, both inside and outside indigenous or protected areas.
The results are clear: Between 23% and 28% of the territory of these ecosystems already shows the trace of at least one of these activities.. If the degree of protection is analyzed, the proportion of surface affected in indigenous and protected areas ranges between 14% and 16%, while in areas without this protection figure the impact reaches up to 38%.
One of the most relevant conclusions is that Within indigenous territories and protected areas, ecological connectivity is manifestly greater than outside of them. This indicates that these spaces can better buffer against external threats, making their ecosystems more resilient to changes such as climate change.
The strategic value of indigenous communities
The work of the CSIC together with the international scientific community underlines the importance of strengthening the governance of indigenous communities themselvesAccording to the authors, strengthening leadership and autonomy in the management of these territories, as well as promoting sustainable development projects, is essential for preserve the connectivity and environmental health of the Amazon.
The study also points to the need for implement sustainable initiatives that guarantee the subsistence of communities and reduce pressure on ecosystems. This not only preserves ecological wealth, but also the cultural and human legacy that defines the Amazon region.
Clearly the protection of these spaces and the recognition of indigenous rights They are fundamental strategies to face the current and future environmental challenges of the Amazon.