Biodiversity of the Amazon

Nature is declining at an unprecedented rate in human history, confirmed by the new landmark report from the Intergovernmental Science-Policy Platform on Biodiversity and Ecosystem Services (IPBES) – the most comprehensive report of its kind. The massive rate of extinction of plant and animal species is likely to have serious impacts on people worldwide.IPBES Chairman Sir Robert Watson said at the report’s launch: “It is not too late to make a difference, but only if we start now at all levels, from local to global.” This is what the Amazon Sustainable Landscapes (ASL) Program, led by the World Bank and funded by the Global Environment Facility, is working to do in the Amazon, a region that hosts 40% of the world’s remaining tropical rainforest, 25% of its terrestrial biodiversity, and more fish species than any other river system. Through its integrated regional approach, the ASL will improve the management of 82 million hectares of forest in Brazil, Colombia, and Peru.
Frequently called the ‘Godfather of Biodiversity,’ prominent ecologist Thomas Lovejoy has been working in the Amazon for over 50 years. In an interview for the World Bank, he shares with us the pressures currently facing the Amazon, why we should protect the Amazon, and some solutions.
 
The Amazon is one of the few remaining wilderness areas and possibly harbors a quarter of the world’s terrestrial species. Why is this biodiversity so important?
The forests and rivers of the Amazon are home to an extraordinary variety of species,some endemic, others endangered, and many still unknown.
This biodiversity is important globally. Each species — a set of biological challenges — any one of which has transformative potential and could yield global human benefits. For example, the discovery of ACE (Angiotensin Converting Enzyme) inhibitors, inspired by studies of the venom of the Fer de Lance (a tropical viper found in the Amazon), helps hundreds of millions of people control hypertension worldwide. This rich wealth of species overflows with promise, waiting to be discovered. Leafcutter ants are one example. These ants collect leaves as cover for their fungus farms, deliberately avoiding those with natural fungicides. Studying the species they avoid could be a shortcut to identifying new natural fungicides. Indigenous knowledge has a significant role to play in revealing this potential. Biodiversity is also important locally, constituting a natural capital that sustains many human activities, particularly the livelihoods of the world’s poor. For example, the giant catfish is an important local staple.
The biodiversity of the Amazon also plays a critical role as part of global systems, influencing the global carbon cycle and thus climate change, as well as hemispheric hydrological systems, serving as an important anchor for the climate and rainfall of South America.While most people are familiar with the fact that the Amazon stores large amounts of carbon and, therefore, its importance for climate change, can you tell us more about the hydrological cycles?
Few people know that the Amazon produces about half of its own rain, in addition to providing rain as far south as Argentina, supporting agricultural production. Failing to maintain this hydrological cycle could lead to a tipping point, converting parts of the rainforest into dry savanna and perhaps caatinga, a formation of semi-arid shrubs, as well as negatively affecting rainfall and agriculture across South America. Climate scientist Carlos Nobre and I believe we are really close to this tipping point, with the droughts of 2005, 2010, and 2016 being its first signs. However, there is good news, as recognizing this possibility and engaging in reforestation can rebuild a safety margin.
What do you see as the main threats to the Amazon and solutions to address them?
Unfortunately, the Amazon is increasingly under pressure. While the most at-risk areas are in the south and southeast (parts of Pará, Mato Grosso, and Rondônia), pressures are beginning to emerge elsewhere.
One of the biggest problems is deforestation for livestock or other agriculture. Infrastructure development also poses a significant threat, especially if some developments proceed as currently conceived. We need to think about alternatives and engage state governments to create sustainable development models that conserve the forest.
Developing sustainable bioeconomies will be part of the answer. If farmers see income flows from activities that protect the forest, I imagine there will be a good response. Another example is fishing and aquaculture.These are really important both in terms of bioeconomy and for feeding the growing population of the world. However, it all depends on how aquaculture is implemented. The state of Acre has developed a quite productive aquaculture industry over the past 10 years. This bio-based activity makes a lot of sense, and we should look for more opportunities like this, also drawing on indigenous knowledge to identify new bio-based economic opportunities.
Sustainable cities are also key, but they need careful and creative planning. Economic activity in Manaus, for example, largely uses materials that do not come from the forest. We must start a conversation about how to enable cities to bring real benefits to their populations, with much less impact on the forest.
Low-impact infrastructure is another solution. An excellent example is elevating highways as in the Atlantic Forest region. The planned Manaus-Roraima transmission line would have lower impacts if the proposed straight-line design were modified to follow the existing highway, avoiding further forest loss and disturbance to indigenous peoples. Similarly, we need to think about how to produce non-fossil energy from hydropower dams in a way that maintains sediment flows and pathways for migratory species like the giant catfish, whose life cycle goes from the estuary to the headwaters.
Source: World Bank