Managing Flood Plains

Of the different types of land that comprise the Amazon Forest, the flood plains are of outstanding importance to the regional economy. These areas contain among the most fertile soils in the region - a result of sediment left by the Amazonian rivers and lakes when they overflow. Furthermore, in the rivers and lakes near the flood plains, some of the largest stocks of commercially viable fish, such as pirarucu, can be found.

The flood plains, found mainly along the Solimões and Amazon rivers - the two biggest rivers in the region - occupy around 7 million hectares or a total of 5% of Legal Amazônia. It was on the banks of these rivers that settlements were founded by pioneers and where part of the regional economy began to put down roots. However, significant areas of the flood plains are under threat on account of urban and agricultural expansion, not helped by indiscriminate logging and over-exploitation of fish resources. Nowadays, an estimated 1.1 million people live on the flood plains and their means of survival is directly related to the availability of resources - occasionally giving rise to conflicts over access.

Project benefits local producers

The threat hanging over the Amazon flood plains has inspired one of the latest projects under the auspices of the Pilot Program - the Project for the Management of Natural Resources of the Flood Plains (ProVarzea). This particular project is managed by IBAMA, the Brazilian federal government body which deals with the environment. The aim of the project is to generate knowledge and experience with the aim of assisting in the formulation of public policies for the sustainable use of the natural resources that exist in these areas.

ProVarzea was launched in 2000 with a budget of US$ 16 million. This investment is directed towards research connected with resource management in the area, to building an integrated system of monitoring and control for the economic use of the area and in support for initiatives undertaken by local populations that traditionally make their living out of the flood plains, particularly riverain dwellers who live almost entirely off fishing.

During the two years that it has been running, ProVarzea has succeeded in building up a network of volunteers, trained and registered by IBAMA to monitor economic use of the flood plains. Gradual integration of fishermen and other riverain dwellers in the management of these areas, involvement of local municipal authorities and the drawing up of agreements covering fishing and resource management of the existing lakes are further achievements that have been made possible by the project. Together with measures such as accurate demarcation of lakes, these agreements have so far helped substantially to mitigate conflicts arising from fishing activities in the areas concerned.