Two decades of clear-cutting threats in the Brazilian Amazonian protected areas around the Jirau, Santo Antônio, and Belo Monte large dams

Deforestation rates in the Amazon have markedly increased in the last few years, affecting non-protected and protected areas (PAs). Brazil is a hotspot of Protected Area Downgrading, Downsizing, and Degazettement (PADDD) events, with most events associated with infrastructure projects. Despite the t...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	Journal of environmental management Vol. 359; p. 120864
Main Authors:	Mandai, Silvia Sayuri, Branco, Evandro Albiach, Moretto, Evandro Mateus, Barros, Jocilene Dantas, Alves, Guilherme Prado, Utsunomiya, Renata, Arcoverde, Gustavo Felipe Balué, Assahira, Cyro, Arantes, Caroline C., Lobo, Guilherme de Sousa, Calvi, Miquéias Freitas, Doria, Carolina Rodrigues da Costa, Johansen, Igor Cavallini, Carreiro, Gabriela Alves, Bonavigo, Paulo Henrique, Ferronato, Marcelo Lucian, Reis, Vanessa Cristine e Souza, Moran, Emílio Federico
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	England Elsevier Ltd 01-05-2024
Subjects:	Amazonia Environmental policies Forest loss Indigenous Land PADDD Post-dams Forest loss PAs PADDD Amazonia JSA Indigenous Land Post-dams Environmental policies
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Deforestation rates in the Amazon have markedly increased in the last few years, affecting non-protected and protected areas (PAs). Brazil is a hotspot of Protected Area Downgrading, Downsizing, and Degazettement (PADDD) events, with most events associated with infrastructure projects. Despite the threats dams impose on PAs, there is a knowledge gap in assessing deforestation in PAs around large dams in the Amazon. This study investigates how deforestation affects Biodiversity Protection Areas (BioPAs) and Indigenous Lands around the Jirau and Santo Antônio (JSA) dams (Madeira River, Rondônia) and Belo Monte dam (Xingu River, Pará) in the Brazilian Amazon. We compared clear-cutting between PAs and control areas and the annual rates of forest change between pre-dam and post-dam periods. We discussed deforestation-related factors (e.g., PADDD events and the presence of management plans or councils). Our results show an increase in deforestation after the operation of the dams when environmental control from licensing agencies decreases and other political and economic factors are in practice. Indigenous Lands experienced a significant increase in deforestation around the Belo Monte dam, which is associated with the demarcation process and land conflicts. Surrounding the JSA dams, sustainable use BioPAs showed high deforestation rates, and 27 PADDD events were reported, four directly related to dams. In addition to dams, deforestation was associated with the crisis of Brazilian democracy and the weakening of environmental policies. In conclusion, the weak environmental control from environmental licensing agencies during dam operation and PADDD events have contributed to increased deforestation rates and additional stresses in the Amazon. •PAs around the Belo Monte and JSA dams experienced higher deforestation rates in the post-dam period than in the pre-dam one.•Around the JSA dams, sustainable use Biodiversity PAs showed high rates of forest change.•Events of Protected Areas Downgrading, Downsizing, and Degazettement were frequent around the JSA dams.•Indigenous Lands around the Belo Monte dam experienced high increases in deforestation associated with demarcation and weak enforcement.•Together with other external factors, a weakening of environmental policies influenced deforestation after dams’ operation.
Bibliography:	ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23
ISSN:	0301-4797 1095-8630
DOI:	10.1016/j.jenvman.2024.120864