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Droughts and controlled rivers: how Belo Monte Dam has affected the food security of Amazonian riverine communities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  27 December 2023

Priscila FM Lopes Open the ORCID record for Priscila FM Lopes [Opens in a new window] ,
Marta Cousido-Rocha Open the ORCID record for Marta Cousido-Rocha [Opens in a new window] ,
Monalisa RO Silva Open the ORCID record for Monalisa RO Silva [Opens in a new window] ,
Cristiane C Carneiro Open the ORCID record for Cristiane C Carneiro [Opens in a new window] ,
Juarez CB Pezzuti Open the ORCID record for Juarez CB Pezzuti [Opens in a new window] ,
Eduardo G Martins ,
Eder MS De Paula Open the ORCID record for Eder MS De Paula [Opens in a new window] ,
Alpina Begossi Open the ORCID record for Alpina Begossi [Opens in a new window]  and
Maria G Pennino Open the ORCID record for Maria G Pennino [Opens in a new window]
Priscila FM Lopes*
Affiliation:
Fishing Ecology, Management and Economics Group, Department of Ecology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil Fisheries and Food Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Marta Cousido-Rocha
Affiliation:
Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
Monalisa RO Silva
Affiliation:
Fishing Ecology, Management and Economics Group, Department of Ecology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil Department of Fish and Wildlife Conservation, Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University, Blacksburg, VA, USA
Cristiane C Carneiro
Affiliation:
Federal Prosecutor Office, Altamira, Pará, Brazil
Juarez CB Pezzuti
Affiliation:
Fisheries and Food Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Centre for Advanced Amazonian Studies (NAEA), Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil Rio de Janeiro National Museum, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Eduardo G Martins
Affiliation:
Department of Ecosystem Science and Management, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince Geroge, BC, Canada
Eder MS De Paula
Affiliation:
Faculdade de Geografia e Cartografia, Universidade Federal do Pará, Belém, Brazil
Alpina Begossi
Affiliation:
Fisheries and Food Institute, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil Center of Studies and Research in Food (NEPA), CAPESCA, University of Campinas, Campinas, Brazil
Maria G Pennino
Affiliation:
Fishing Ecology, Management and Economics Group, Department of Ecology, Universidade Federal do Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil Instituto Español de Oceanografía (IEO-CSIC), Centro Oceanográfico de Vigo, Vigo, Spain
*
Corresponding author: Priscila FM Lopes; Email: priscila.lopes@ufrn.br
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Summary

The Neotropics have vast river catchments with untapped hydroelectric potential, but there are multiple expected negative impacts of dams, including those on local food security and livelihoods. Yet, monitoring of dam effects on subsistence is rare, particularly during initial implementation. Our study assessed changes in human fish consumption near the Belo Monte Dam in the Brazilian Amazon during the period 2012–2021, which covers construction, operation and a severe El Niño-induced drought. Over time, fish became less common and were consumed in smaller amounts, even though fewer people shared meals. The largest changes occurred between 2013 and 2016 (post-construction but prior to full operation), resulting in a downward trend in fish consumption, particularly during the drought season. Adding more fish species to the diet did not increase consumption per person. These changes in fish consumption suggest that they stem from environmental impacts of the project (e.g., reduced river level), despite secondary effects from climatic events. These findings underscore the urgent need for comprehensive assessments of the social and ecological impacts of large infrastructure projects in the Amazon, along with sustainable and equitable management strategies to ensure food security and meet the needs of local communities.

Keywords

Belo Montefish consumptionfood sovereigntyhydroelectricityXingu River

Information

Type
Research Paper
Information
Environmental Conservation , Volume 51 , Issue 1 , March 2024 , pp. 27 - 35
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Copyright
© The Author(s), 2024. Published by Cambridge University Press on behalf of Foundation for Environmental Conservation

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Footnotes

†

In memoriam.

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