XVII Meeting of the SSC LBA PROJECT ANDEAN LBA INITIATIVE BELEM, PA, BRAZIL. 2-4 JUNE 2005

The Amazon, measuring 6.5 million km2 is the largest tropical ecosystem and contains the biggest network of rivers and lakes, which constitute 20% of the Earth’s freshwater. The Amazon, measuring 6.5 million km2 is the largest tropical ecosystem and contains the biggest network of rivers and lakes, which constitute 20% of the Earth’s freshwater. The Andean Headwaters of the Amazon basin form a water-rich region extending over 600,000 km2 from Venezuela, through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia. The Andean Headwaters of the Amazon basin form a water-rich region extending over 600,000 km2 from Venezuela, through Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, and Bolivia.

The future of the region’s water resources and aquatic ecosystems are threatened, however, by growing local demands and, in some catchments, by trans-boundary diversions to supply the steeply rising demands of major urban areas. The future of the region’s water resources and aquatic ecosystems are threatened, however, by growing local demands and, in some catchments, by trans-boundary diversions to supply the steeply rising demands of major urban areas. The highest levels of biodiversity in the World have been recorded in the Andean Amazon Jungle. Approximately a third of the 1800 species of birds that exist in the tropical Amazon Jungle can be found here in this rainforest. The highest levels of biodiversity in the World have been recorded in the Andean Amazon Jungle. Approximately a third of the 1800 species of birds that exist in the tropical Amazon Jungle can be found here in this rainforest.

With the aim of preserving the rainforest, several national parks and ecologial reservs around the Andean Amazon region of all andean countires have been set. Just an example: Parque Nacional Yasuní, as well as the two reserves of Cuyabeno and Limoncocha protect approximately 1 million hectares of rich Ecuadorian Amazon. With the aim of preserving the rainforest, several national parks and ecologial reservs around the Andean Amazon region of all andean countires have been set. Just an example: Parque Nacional Yasuní, as well as the two reserves of Cuyabeno and Limoncocha protect approximately 1 million hectares of rich Ecuadorian Amazon.

The Andean Amazon region is also home to many indigenous communities. In Ecuador they are: Cofanes, Shuaras, Huaoranis, Secoyas, Sionas, Achuar, Quichuas, Zaparos, Kichwa, and Quijos

MAIN PROBLEMS FACING THE ANDEAN AMAZON REGION OIL-MINING POLLUTION OIL-MINING POLLUTION LOST OF BIODIVERSITY LOST OF BIODIVERSITY DEFORESTATION DEFORESTATION WATER WITHDRAWAL WATER WITHDRAWAL SEDIMENT PRODUCTION SEDIMENT PRODUCTION

MAIN PROBLEMS... MAIN PROBLEMS... GEOMORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES GEOMORPHOLOGICAL CHANGES OVERLOADED ECOTOURISM OVERLOADED ECOTOURISM LANDSLIDES, MUD/DEBRIS FLOW LANDSLIDES, MUD/DEBRIS FLOW FLOODING FLOODING GARBAGE DUMPING GARBAGE DUMPING DRUG PRODUCTION AND TRAFFICKING DRUG PRODUCTION AND TRAFFICKING LOST OF INDIGENEOUS CULTURES LOST OF INDIGENEOUS CULTURES

SCIENTIFIC QUESTIONS How human activities affect aquatic ecosystems both in quantity and quality in the upper and low lands? How human activities affect aquatic ecosystems both in quantity and quality in the upper and low lands? What is the degree of vulnerability of aquatic ecosystems? What is the degree of vulnerability of aquatic ecosystems? How human interventions can be attenuated? How human interventions can be attenuated?

Scientific issues Human health in the Amazon Andes is been affected by human activities. Soil degradation and sediment transport. Andean impact on regional and global climate. Land-use change spatial patterns in the upper and lower Amazon.

ANDEAN AMAZON REGIONAL EXPERIENCES The ANDEAN AMAZON RIVERS ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT PROJECT – AARAM The ANDEAN AMAZON RIVERS ANALYSIS AND MANAGEMENT PROJECT – AARAM 1999 – – 2004 Research areas in: Bolivia, Perú, Ecuador and Colombia. Research areas in: Bolivia, Perú, Ecuador and Colombia. Other participating countries: USA, Brazil, Germany, France. Other participating countries: USA, Brazil, Germany, France. To be continued… as SUMAAR To be continued… as SUMAAR

Objetives To improve the understanding of the Andean Amazon rivers dynamics as a function of land-use, land-cover-change, climate variability. To improve the understanding of the Andean Amazon rivers dynamics as a function of land-use, land-cover-change, climate variability. To educate researchers and general public in regards to human activities impact on water quantity and quality. To educate researchers and general public in regards to human activities impact on water quantity and quality. To collaborate with local communities in formulating water management programs. To collaborate with local communities in formulating water management programs.

Other regional projects HIBAM Hidrología de la Bacia Amazónica. IRD. HIBAM Hidrología de la Bacia Amazónica. IRD. MAP – Madre de Dios (Perú)-Acre (Brasil)-Pando (Bolivia). MAP – Madre de Dios (Perú)-Acre (Brasil)-Pando (Bolivia). PHICAB – Proyecto de Hidrología y Climatología de la Amazonía Boliviana. PHICAB – Proyecto de Hidrología y Climatología de la Amazonía Boliviana. Proyecto Corredor Vilcabamba-Amboró (parques nacionales). Proyecto Corredor Vilcabamba-Amboró (parques nacionales). Proyecto Cordillera del Condor Proyecto Cordillera del Condor RAINFOR and PARAMA (UE) RAINFOR and PARAMA (UE) TROPICANDES (U N Colombia, EPN, IG-Perú, Bolivia, Chile, Venezuela) TROPICANDES (U N Colombia, EPN, IG-Perú, Bolivia, Chile, Venezuela) Other binational and multinational projects Other binational and multinational projects

The Amazon region is a whole entity The Amazon region is a whole entity Many efforts done in the lowlands… Many efforts done in the lowlands… Just a few in the upper Amazon Andes Just a few in the upper Amazon Andes Increased collaboration is needed Increased collaboration is needed Andean countries are making efforts Andean countries are making efforts Additional resources should be provided as well as coordination among all Amazon countries Additional resources should be provided as well as coordination among all Amazon countries

THANK YOU SEE YOU AT THE NEXT SSC MEETING IN AN ANDEAN AMAZON SITE THANK YOU SEE YOU AT THE NEXT SSC MEETING IN AN ANDEAN AMAZON SITE