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Damming the rivers of the Amazon basin

Author

Listed:
  • Edgardo M. Latrubesse

    (University of Texas at Austin
    Earth Observatory of Singapore and Asian School of the Environment, Nanyang Technological University)

  • Eugenio Y. Arima

    (University of Texas at Austin)

  • Thomas Dunne

    (University of California at Santa Barbara, Bren School of Environmental Science and Management)

  • Edward Park

    (University of Texas at Austin)

  • Victor R. Baker

    (University of Arizona)

  • Fernando M. d’Horta

    (National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA))

  • Charles Wight

    (University of Texas at Austin)

  • Florian Wittmann

    (Institute of Floodplain Ecology, Karlsruhe Institute of Technology)

  • Jansen Zuanon

    (National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA))

  • Paul A. Baker

    (Duke University, Nicholas School of the Environment
    Yachay Tech, Geological Sciences)

  • Camila C. Ribas

    (National Institute of Amazonian Research (INPA))

  • Richard B. Norgaard

    (University of California at Berkeley, Energy and Resources Group)

  • Naziano Filizola

    (Federal University of Amazonas)

  • Atif Ansar

    (University of Oxford, Saïd Business School)

  • Bent Flyvbjerg

    (University of Oxford, Saïd Business School)

  • Jose C. Stevaux

    (State University of Sao Paulo (UNESP-Rio Claro))

Abstract

More than a hundred hydropower dams have already been built in the Amazon basin and numerous proposals for further dam constructions are under consideration. The accumulated negative environmental effects of existing dams and proposed dams, if constructed, will trigger massive hydrophysical and biotic disturbances that will affect the Amazon basin’s floodplains, estuary and sediment plume. We introduce a Dam Environmental Vulnerability Index to quantify the current and potential impacts of dams in the basin. The scale of foreseeable environmental degradation indicates the need for collective action among nations and states to avoid cumulative, far-reaching impacts. We suggest institutional innovations to assess and avoid the likely impoverishment of Amazon rivers.

Suggested Citation

  • Edgardo M. Latrubesse & Eugenio Y. Arima & Thomas Dunne & Edward Park & Victor R. Baker & Fernando M. d’Horta & Charles Wight & Florian Wittmann & Jansen Zuanon & Paul A. Baker & Camila C. Ribas & Ric, 2017. "Damming the rivers of the Amazon basin," Nature, Nature, vol. 546(7658), pages 363-369, June.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:nature:v:546:y:2017:i:7658:d:10.1038_nature22333
    DOI: 10.1038/nature22333
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Zhiwei Wan & Hongqi Wu, 2022. "Evolution of Ecological Patterns of Poyang Lake Wetland Landscape over the Last One Hundred Years Based on Historical Topographic Maps and Landsat Images," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(13), pages 1-17, June.
    2. Gerard Sasges & Alan D. Ziegler, 2023. "We Have Eaten the Rivers: The Past, Present, and Unsustainable Future of Hydroelectricity in Vietnam," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(11), pages 1-30, June.
    3. Taborianski, Vanessa Montoro & Pacca, Sergio Almeida, 2022. "Carbon dioxide emission reduction potential for low income housing units based on photovoltaic systems in distinct climatic regions," Renewable Energy, Elsevier, vol. 198(C), pages 1440-1447.
    4. Lan Feng & Pan Hu & Haisen Wang & Ming-ming Chen & Jiangang Han, 2022. "Improving City Water Quality through Pollution Reduction with Urban Floodgate Infrastructure and Design Solutions: A Case Study in Wuxi, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-18, September.
    5. Haozhe Zhang & Qingyuan Yang & Zhongxun Zhang & Dan Lu & Huiming Zhang, 2021. "Spatiotemporal Changes of Ecosystem Service Value Determined by National Land Space Pattern Change: A Case Study of Fengdu County in The Three Gorges Reservoir Area, China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(9), pages 1-24, May.
    6. Te Wang & Zongkun Li & Wei Ge & Yadong Zhang & Yutie Jiao & Hua Zhang & Heqiang Sun & Pieter Gelder, 2023. "Risk assessment methods of cascade reservoir dams: a review and reflection," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 115(2), pages 1601-1622, January.
    7. Margaret Kalacska & Oliver Lucanus & Leandro Sousa & J. Pablo Arroyo-Mora, 2020. "High-Resolution Surface Water Classifications of the Xingu River, Brazil, Pre and Post Operationalization of the Belo Monte Hydropower Complex," Data, MDPI, vol. 5(3), pages 1-12, August.
    8. Wang, Te & Li, Zongkun & Ge, Wei & Zhang, Hua & Zhang, Yadong & Sun, Heqiang & Jiao, Yutie, 2023. "Risk consequence assessment of dam breach in cascade reservoirs considering risk transmission and superposition," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 265(C).
    9. Athayde, Simone & Duarte, Carla G. & Gallardo, Amarilis L.C.F. & Moretto, Evandro M. & Sangoi, Luisa A. & Dibo, Ana Paula A. & Siqueira-Gay, Juliana & Sánchez, Luis E., 2019. "Improving policies and instruments to address cumulative impacts of small hydropower in the Amazon," Energy Policy, Elsevier, vol. 132(C), pages 265-271.
    10. Vinícius B. P. Chagas & Pedro L. B. Chaffe & Günter Blöschl, 2022. "Climate and land management accelerate the Brazilian water cycle," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-10, December.
    11. A. O. Sawakuchi & E. D. Schultz & F. N. Pupim & D. J. Bertassoli & D. F. Souza & D. F. Cunha & C. E. Mazoca & M. P. Ferreira & C. H. Grohmann & I. D. Wahnfried & C. M. Chiessi & F. W. Cruz & R. P. Alm, 2022. "Rainfall and sea level drove the expansion of seasonally flooded habitats and associated bird populations across Amazonia," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 13(1), pages 1-15, December.
    12. Igor Cavallini Johansen & Miquéias Freitas Calvi & Verônica Gronau Luz & Ana Maria Segall-Corrêa & Caroline C. Arantes & Victoria Judith Isaac & Renata Utsunomiya & Vanessa Cristine e Souza Reis & Emi, 2024. "Poverty–Food Insecurity Nexus in the Post-Construction Context of a Large Hydropower Dam in the Brazilian Amazon," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 21(2), pages 1-19, January.
    13. Li, Mingxu & He, Nianpeng, 2022. "Carbon intensity of global existing and future hydropower reservoirs," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 162(C).
    14. Isabel L. Jones & Joseph W. Bull, 2020. "Major dams and the challenge of achieving “No Net Loss” of biodiversity in the tropics," Sustainable Development, John Wiley & Sons, Ltd., vol. 28(2), pages 435-443, March.
    15. Yao Li & Gang Zhao & George H. Allen & Huilin Gao, 2023. "Diminishing storage returns of reservoir construction," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, December.

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