MODELLING IMPACTS OF PLANNED DREDGING OF MAJOR AMAZONIAN RIVERS ON THE WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE OF THE FLOODED FOREST OF LORETO, PERU

Authors

  • Richard BODMER Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8777-2967
  • Pablo PUERTAS MELÉNDEZ Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana - IIAP https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3455-2407
  • Peter HENDERSON Museo de Culturas Indígenas Amazónicas
  • Pedro MAYOR Departament de Sanitat i Anatomia Animals, Universitat Autònoma de Barcelona
  • Miguel ANTÚNEZ Museo de Culturas Indígenas Amazónicas
  • Tula FANG Museo de Culturas Indígenas Amazónicas
  • Kimberlyn CHOTA Museo de Culturas Indígenas Amazónicas
  • Marco ARENAS Comisión Nacional de Áreas Protegidas de la Unión Internacional para Conservación de la Naturaleza - UICN Perú
  • Hervé GLOTIN Université de Toulon
  • Marie TRONE Biological Science Department, Valencia College
  • Benjamin COSGROVE Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent
  • Emma DOCHERTY University of Leeds
  • Mike WALKEY† Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology, School of Anthropology and Conservation, University of Kent

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24841/fa.v27i2.471

Keywords:

Dredging, hydrovia, fish, dolphins, bush meat, primates, macaws, otters

Abstract

Dredging activities are planned for the Amazon hydrovia project and there is limited scientific evidence of how the proposed dredging could affect both biodiversity and the local population. A model matrix was used to evaluate the possible consequences of dredging on wildlife. According to the matrix, aquatic species show decreasing populations when the water level is low and terrestrial species are negatively affected when floods are intensive. The indigenous Cocama population has adapted to the population changes of the wildlife, dedicating itself more to fishing when the populations of game animals decrease. Shallow areas, locally called "malos pasos", are important habitat types for fish and dolphins. According to the matrix presented in this study, the best scenario would be that the dredging activities do not affect the normal water levels; while, the worst scenario would be when there are droughts and intensive floods.

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Published

2018-12-28

Issue

Vol. 27 No. 2 (2018)

Section

Scientific Notes

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How to Cite

MODELLING IMPACTS OF PLANNED DREDGING OF MAJOR AMAZONIAN RIVERS ON THE WILDLIFE AND PEOPLE OF THE FLOODED FOREST OF LORETO, PERU. (2018). Folia Amazonica, 27(2), 247-258. https://doi.org/10.24841/fa.v27i2.471

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