Final published version
Licence: CC BY: Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Review article › peer-review
Research output: Contribution to Journal/Magazine › Review article › peer-review
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Translating science into actions to conserve Amazonian freshwaters
AU - Couto, Thiago B. A.
AU - Jenkins, Clinton N.
AU - Beveridge, Claire F.
AU - Heilpern, Sebastian A.
AU - Herrera‐R, Guido A.
AU - Piland, Natalia C.
AU - Leal, Cecilia Gontijo
AU - Zuanon, Jansen
AU - Doria, Carolina R. C.
AU - Montoya, Mariana
AU - Varese, Mariana
AU - Correa, Sandra B.
AU - Goulding, Michael
AU - Anderson, Elizabeth P.
PY - 2024/11/30
Y1 - 2024/11/30
N2 - Despite the importance of freshwater ecosystems to social‐ecological systems of the Amazon, conservation in the region historically has focused on terrestrial ecosystems. Moreover, current information on pressing management and conservation needs specific to freshwaters is scattered across multiple disciplines and generally focused on particular threats, habitats, and taxa. This disparateness of information limits the ability of researchers and practitioners to set priorities and implement actions that comprehensively address challenges faced by freshwater ecosystems. To reduce this research‐implementation gap, we reviewed the scientific literature on Amazon freshwater conservation to identify pressing actions to be taken and potential directions for their implementation. We identified 63 actions gleaned from 174 publications. These were classified into six major themes: (i) implement environmental flows, (ii) improve water quality, (iii) protect and restore critical habitats, (iv) manage exploitation of freshwater organisms, (v) prevent and control invasive species, and (vi) safeguard and restore freshwater connectivity. Although each action may face different implementation challenges, we propose three guiding principles to support action planning and decisions on‐the‐ground. We conclude with a reflection on potential future directions to place freshwaters into the center of policies and agreements that target the conservation of the Amazon.
AB - Despite the importance of freshwater ecosystems to social‐ecological systems of the Amazon, conservation in the region historically has focused on terrestrial ecosystems. Moreover, current information on pressing management and conservation needs specific to freshwaters is scattered across multiple disciplines and generally focused on particular threats, habitats, and taxa. This disparateness of information limits the ability of researchers and practitioners to set priorities and implement actions that comprehensively address challenges faced by freshwater ecosystems. To reduce this research‐implementation gap, we reviewed the scientific literature on Amazon freshwater conservation to identify pressing actions to be taken and potential directions for their implementation. We identified 63 actions gleaned from 174 publications. These were classified into six major themes: (i) implement environmental flows, (ii) improve water quality, (iii) protect and restore critical habitats, (iv) manage exploitation of freshwater organisms, (v) prevent and control invasive species, and (vi) safeguard and restore freshwater connectivity. Although each action may face different implementation challenges, we propose three guiding principles to support action planning and decisions on‐the‐ground. We conclude with a reflection on potential future directions to place freshwaters into the center of policies and agreements that target the conservation of the Amazon.
KW - conservation planning
KW - freshwater biodiversity
KW - Amazon Basin
KW - conservation actions
KW - aquatic ecosystems
U2 - 10.1111/csp2.13241
DO - 10.1111/csp2.13241
M3 - Review article
VL - 6
JO - Conservation Science and Practice
JF - Conservation Science and Practice
SN - 2578-4854
IS - 11
M1 - e13241
ER -