The Amazon River basin stands out as the largest on the planet, encompassing territories in eight countries and approximately 7,8 million square kilometers . This 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 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 lives of the communities that inhabit it.
A recent international study, with participation from the Royal Botanical Garden (RJB) of the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC) , has shed light on the importance of indigenous territories and protected areas in maintaining ecological connectivity in the Amazon basin. The study, published in the journal PNAS, analyzes how these areas contribute to maintaining the ecological flows necessary for species survival and the functioning of natural processes.
Researcher Jesús Muñoz, from the Spanish National Research Council (CSIC), explains that human activities have begun to disrupt the connectivity between Amazonian ecosystems . This negatively impacts the health of natural systems, hindering 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
Using remote sensing data obtained by the Amazonian Network of Georeferenced Socio-Environmental Information (RAISG) between 2016 and 2023, the research team mapped the degree of connectivity in four major types of Amazonian ecosystems: upland forests, floodplain forests, rivers, and tropical Andean forests. To do this, they analyzed the impacts of six main human activities : dam construction, deforestation, fires, legal and illegal mining, hydrocarbon extraction, and road construction, 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 impact of at least one of these activities . If the degree of protection is analyzed, the proportion of affected area in indigenous and protected zones ranges between 14% and 16% , while in areas without such protection, the impact reaches up to 38%.
One of the most significant findings is that ecological connectivity is significantly greater within Indigenous territories and protected areas than outside of them. This indicates that these spaces are better able to buffer against external threats, making their ecosystems more resilient to disturbances such as climate change.
The strategic value of indigenous communities
The work of the CSIC, in collaboration with the international scientific community, underscores the importance of strengthening the governance of Indigenous communities themselves . According to the authors, reinforcing leadership and autonomy in the management of these territories, as well as promoting sustainable development projects, is essential for preserving the connectivity and environmental health of the Amazon.
The study also points to the need to implement sustainable initiatives that guarantee the livelihoods of communities and reduce pressure on ecosystems. In this way, not only is the ecological wealth preserved, but also the cultural and human legacy that defines the Amazon region.
It is clear that protecting these spaces and recognizing indigenous rights are fundamental strategies for facing the current and future environmental challenges of the Amazon.