Chapter 3.3 – Climate change impacts on Native American water resources: engaging in culture-based solutions

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Impactos das mudanças climáticas nas águas dos povos Nativos Americanos: engajamento em soluções baseadas na cultura

O capítulo 3.3 – seção 3 do livro, versa sobre uma pesquisa coordenada pelo grupo da Dra. Karletta Chief, sobre o impacto do derramamento da mina Gold King no Rio San Juan. Foram investigados os impactos do derramamento sob a perspectiva do povo Navajo. Apontou-se 42 atividades, incluindo as artesanais e artísticas, de subsistência e de recreação – uma perspectiva muito mais ampla do que a do rio como um recurso exclusivo de recreação. Nesse tipo de pesquisa, uma abordagem participativa é fundamental. Assim, esse relato traz a experiência da comunicação bilateral, que foi facilitada pelas sessões de escuta nas quais a comunidade pode ouvir e dar voz a suas preocupações.

O texto destaca que os povos necessitam preparar-se com urgência para os impactos das mudanças climáticas, ao mesmo tempo, as medidas de adaptação devem estar acopladas às agendas tribais existentes para que sejam bem-sucedidas. Sabe-se que muitas vezes, os povos indígenas são deixados de fora da discussão, mas as sessões de escuta são uma maneira de mudar isso, pois possibilitam que os mesmos se tornem protagonistas das soluções que as áreas indígenas precisam.

Para ler o texto completo acesse o link: https://www.editorafi.org/19rios

Ressaltamos que para cada capítulo a versão em português é seguida imediatamente pela versão em inglês.

Climate change impacts on Native American water resources: engaging in culture-based solutions

Chapter 3.3 – section 3 of the book, describes research on the impact of the Gold King mine spill in the San Juan River, coordinated by Dr. Karletta Chief. Spill impacts were investigated from the perspective of the Navajo people. 42 activities, including craft, artistic, subsistence, and recreational activities were identified – a much broader perspective than that of the river as an exclusively recreational resource. In this type of research, a participatory approach is essential. Thus, this report brings the experience of bilateral communication, which was facilitated by listening sessions in which the community can hear and voice its concerns.

The text highlights that people urgently need to prepare for the impacts of climate change. At the same time, adaptation measures must be coupled with the existing tribal agendas in order to be successful. It is known that indigenous peoples are often left out of the discussion, but listening sessions are a way of changing this, enabling them to become protagonists in the solutions that indigenous areas need.

To read the full text, access the link: https://www.editorafi.org/19rios

We emphasize that for each chapter the version in Portuguese is followed immediately by the version in English.

New paper: “Stakeholder Perceptions on the Governance of Fisheries Systems Transformed by Hydroelectric Dam Development in the Madeira River, Brazil”

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New paper by ADN members and colleagues Carolina R. C. Doria, Jynessa Dutka-Gianelli, Mariluce Paes de Souza, Kai Lorenzen and Simone Athayde

Link to paper

ABSTRACT

Hydroelectric dams often have significant impacts on freshwater fisheries. Major impacts are known to be driven by changes in river hydrology and fish ecology, but the role of governance arrangements in mitigating or exacerbating fisheries impacts from hydropower development is less understood. This study presents an analysis of stakeholder perceptions about the effects of hydroelectric dam implementation on fisheries governance arrangements in the Madeira River basin, Brazil. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with 50 stakeholders representing the fishers and fish traders, government, non-governmental organizations, and the private sector. Fishers, non-governmental, and private sector agents perceived hydropower development to be the strongest factor driving fisheries decline or change over the past 10 years, while government staff perceived overfishing to be an equally or even more important factor. Most stakeholders affirmed that fisheries governance arrangements have weakened in the face of hydropower development, and that these arrangements have been insufficient to effectively mitigate or compensate for negative impacts on fisheries. Fishers, non-governmental and private sector agents saw lack of opportunities to participate in fisheries governance as a major contributing factor, while government staff emphasized lack of qualified personnel, lack of trust between agencies, and control over the decision-making process held by hydropower companies. Perspectives on other implications of governance arrangements were shared across stakeholder groups. These included increased conflicts; lack of interaction and coordination between agencies; the fragility of fishers’ social organization; lack of trust and reciprocity between organizations; and power imbalances between stakeholders. The results show that hydropower development impairs and changes relationships between diverse players involved in fisheries governance, which can exacerbate existing weaknesses and negatively affect fishery sustainability. Drawing from the perspectives and comments of the various stakeholders who participated in the study, we provide recommendations to improve freshwater fisheries governance in the Madeira River basin and in the Brazilian Amazon.

Este estudo apresenta uma análise das percepções dos atores sobre os efeitos da implementação de barragens hidrelétricas nos arranjos de governança da pesca na bacia do rio Madeira, Brasil. Com base nas perspectivas e comentários de vários atores que participaram do estudo, são fornecidas recomendações para melhorar a governança da pesca de água doce na bacia do rio Madeira e na Amazônia brasileira.

FIGURE 4. Cognitive map of the Madeira Fisheries System after implementation of the Santo Antônio and Jirau dams. The circles represent the institutions cited by the respondents: the green lines represent strong relationships that contribute to sustainability, while red lines represent weak relationships that do not contribute to the fishing sustainability. Line density represents the percentage of responses related to all answers.

Forgetting people in energy development of Belo Monte and other dams

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Rios, Terras e Culturas: aprendendo com o Sistema Socioecológico do Tocantins (Rivers, lands and cultures: Learning from the Tocantins Social-ecological System)

Juliana Laufer; Elineide E. Marques; Simone Athayde; A. Christine Swanson; Ana Daisy A. Zagallo (Orgs.)

Chapter 3.2 is entitled “Forgetting people in energy development of Belo Monte and other dams”. This chapter shows that people are often overlooked in the process of planning hydroelectric dams as observed in the case of Belo Monte and other dams. Many populations dependent on the river were forced to leave their homes and were resettled in urban communities, dramatically changing their lives. The impacts caused on the lives of these people are not sufficiently considered in planning and mitigation. The authors emphasize that it is necessary to think about a sustainable way to produce energy and compensate the people who are impacted by the dams because in addition to not receiving the energy that is being generated by the dam, they still pay a high price for the energy consumed. To address this, a technology proposal is presented that will not affect fishery production or require resettlement. The proposed approach is to install small turbines close to a local community to generate energy for that community rather than for far-off places. This approach does not interrupt the flow of water or require resettlements.

O capítulo 3.2 tem como título “Esquecendo as pessoas no desenvolvimento energético de belo monte e outras barragens”. O texto mostra que as pessoas são frequentemente esquecidas no processo de planejamento de hidrelétricas, como observado no caso de Belo Monte e outras barragens. Muitas populações dependentes do rio foram forçadas a sair de suas casas, foram reassentadas em comunidades urbanas, mudando drasticamente suas vidas. Essas mudanças e os impactos causados na vida dessas pessoas não são suficientemente considerados. O texto ressalta que é necessário pensar em uma maneira sustentável de produzir energia e compensar as pessoas que são impactadas, pois, além de não receberem a energia que está sendo gerada ainda pagam alto preço pela energia consumida. Nesse sentido, é apresentada uma proposta de tecnologia que não afetará a produção pesqueira nem exigirá reassentamento. O projeto é instalar pequenas turbinas próximas a uma comunidade local para gerar energia para essa comunidade e não para lugares distantes, sem interromper o fluxo de água nem exigir reassentamentos.

Link: https://www.editorafi.org/19rios

For each chapter the version in Portuguese is followed immediately by the version in English.

Hydroelectric dams and Amazonian traditional peoples: elements for a preliminary and introductory prognosis

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Rios, Terras e Culturas: aprendendo com o Sistema Socioecológico do Tocantins (Rivers, lands and cultures: Learning from the Tocantins Social-ecological System)

Juliana Laufer; Elineide E. Marques; Simone Athayde; A. Christine Swanson; Ana Daisy A. Zagallo (Orgs.)

The third section of this ebook, “Speaking to the experts (the experience of researchers)”, consists of four chapters, adapted from experts’ talks at the workshop.

Chapter 3.1 talks about “Hydroelectric dams and Amazonian traditional peoples: elements for a preliminary and introductory prognosis”. The text shows, through the information extracted from the National Energy Plan – PNE 2030, produced by EPE, that the Amazon is the new frontier for hydroelectric power generation. The northern region of Brazil has 343 (more than 50%) of 676 total indigenous territories in the countries, and yet is at the center of the national efforts to expand hydroelectric plants. In view of this, concerns are raised with Indigenous and Quilombola communities, as well as riverside dwellers, fisherpeople and a whole range of communities that may be impacted by these ventures. This full range of affected people and communities are not considered in the criteria that define environmental restrictions. By 2015, the Palmares Cultural Foundation has identified 2,607 Quilombola communities in Brazil. However, according to data from the same year, only 73 communities had their land recognized. This demonstrates another serious problem with the implementation of hydroelectric dams: there is no security for these communities after the dams are built, and the government refuses to recognize Quilombola and Indigenous areas because of the energy expansion policies.

A terceira seção do e-book- “Conversando com os especialistas (A experiência dos pesquisadores)”, é composta por quatro textos, editados a partir das conferências dos especialistas do workshop.

O capítulo 3.1, fala sobre “Hidrelétricas e povos tradicionais na Amazônia: elementos para um prognóstico preliminar e introdutório”. O texto mostra, através das informações extraídas do Plano Nacional de Energia – PNE 2030, produzido pela EPE, que a Amazônia é a nova fronteira de geração de energia hidrelétrica. O Brasil possui 676 terras indígenas e a região norte comporta 343 dessas áreas, ou seja, mais de 50%, e é exatamente a região que está no centro desse projeto de expansão das hidrelétricas. Diante disso, são apresentadas preocupações com comunidades indígenas e quilombolas, e também os ribeirinhos, pescadores e toda uma série de comunidades que poderão ser impactadas por esses empreendimentos, e que não são considerados nos critérios que definem restrições ambientais. Até 2015, a Fundação Cultural Palmares tinha levantado 2.607 comunidades quilombolas no Brasil. Todavia, segundo dados do mesmo ano, somente 73 comunidades tiveram suas terras reconhecidas. Isso nos mostra um outro lado desse grave problema do avanço das hidrelétricas: nós não temos uma segurança para o que ocorrerá com essas comunidades após os empreendimentos e o governo se recusa a reconhecer áreas quilombolas e indígenas em decorrência dessa política de expansão energética.

Link: https://www.editorafi.org/19rios

For each chapter the version in Portuguese is followed immediately by the version in English.

New paper on rethinking dams / in-stream turbines

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New paper out in the journal Nature Sustainability: In-stream turbines for rethinking hydropower development in the Amazon basin by Suyog Chaudhari, Erik Brown, Raul Quispe-Abad, Emilio Moran, Norbert Müller & Yadu Pokhrel.

Abstract
Given growing energy demands and continued interest in hydropower development, it is important that we rethink hydropower to avoid detrimental socioenvironmental consequences of large dams planned in regions such as the Amazon River basin. Here, we show that ~63% of total energy planned to be generated from conventional hydropower in the Brazilian Amazon could be harnessed using in-stream turbines that use kinetic energy of water without requiring storage. At five of the nine selected planned dam sites, the entirety of energy from planned hydropower could be generated using in-stream turbines by using only a fraction of the river stretch that large dams would affect. We find the cost (US$ kWh−1) for in-stream turbines to be ~50% of the conventional hydropower cost. Our results have important implications for sustainable hydropower development in the Amazon and worldwide through transition to power generation methods that meet energy needs while minimizing the negative socioenvironment impacts.

Chapter 2.3: River values, uses and decision-making

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Os rios estão intimamente ligados à vida das pessoas, às estratégias de subsistência e à espiritualidade, além de abrigar uma impressionante diversidade de seres, culturas e relações humanas. O capítulo 2.3 “Valores e usos dos rios e tomada de decisão”, relata um exercício realizado com participantes da Rede Internacional de Pesquisa em Barragens Amazônicas durante o workshop Palmas 2018, enfocando os valores, métodos e métricas dos rios para avaliar esses valores e implicações para o gerenciamento e a tomada de decisões. Os participantes foram convidados a descrever três aspectos que mais valorizam em um ambiente fluvial e a declarar como eles mediriam, descreveriam ou monitorariam esses valores. A discussão e a análise evidenciaram a natureza pluralista dos valores mantidos pelos grupos humanos em conexão com os ambientes fluviais, cuja mensuração, avaliação e realização exigem uma diversidade de métodos e métricas, análises participativas de trade-off e processos adaptativos.

Rivers are closely connected to people’s lives, livelihood strategies and spirituality. The interconnected web of Amazonian rivers, forests and savannas is home to an impressive diversity of people, cultures and human relationships. The chapter 2.3 “River values, uses and decision-making”, reports on an exercise conducted with Amazon Dams International Research Network participants during the 2018 Palmas workshop, focusing on river values, methods and metrics to assess these values, and implications for management and decision-making. This article Participants were asked to describe three aspects they most value in a river environment, and to state how they would measure, describe or monitor these values. Discussion and analysis provided evidence for the pluralistic nature of values held by different groups in connection to river environments. Measurement, assessment and realization of these values requires a diversity of methods and metrics, participatory trade-off analyses and adaptive processes.

Download Link: https://www.editorafi.org/19rios

We note that for each chapter the Portuguese version is followed immediately by the English version.

A river unites indigenous peoples of the Americas: a cultural exchange on the legacy of the impacts of hydroelectric dams on the Colorado and Tocantins rivers

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“A river unites indigenous peoples of the Americas: a cultural exchange on the legacy of the impacts of hydroelectric dams on the Colorado and Tocantins rivers” is the second chapter of Section 2 of the E-book.
The text summarizes intercultural exchange activities carried out between the Indigenous Xerente peoples and representatives of the Indigenous North American peoples of the Navajo Nation, the Colville Tribes Confederation, and the Pascua Yaqui tribe, in addition to Brazilian and American teachers, researchers and students of various areas, universities and institutions of the United States and Brazil. During the tour, participants gathered to exchange experiences related to territorial management and rivers in general and, more specifically, the socioecological effects of building hydroelectric dams on indigenous lands, rivers and local ways of life. The Xerente and Indigenous visitors exchanged tributes and gifts, and the Xerente submitted a memorandum of intention expressing their gratitude and willingness to continue promoting and participating in exchanges like this.
We note that for each chapter the Portuguese version is followed immediately by the English version.

Learning from the other: perceptions and exchanges of knowledge on a field trip to traditional communities downstream of the Power Plant Lajeado hydroelectric (Tocantins River, Brazil)

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The second section of the e-book, titled ′′ Transdisciplinary Learning “, comprises three articles, in this post we’ll talk about the first ′′ Learning from the other: perceptions and exchanges of knowledge on a field trip to traditional communities downstream of the Power Plant Lajeado hydroelectric (Tocantins River, Brazil) “.

This text brings the perception of academics and non-academics who participated in a field activity in the municipality of Miracema do Tocantins (Brazil), in an excerpt of the Tocantins River about 20 km downstream of the Lajeado Hydroelectric Power Plant, for the purpose to stimulate the exchange of knowledge between professionals from different areas and fishermen and fishermen and residents rivers of the region. Interaction between the participants took place freely during the river boat trip. The perception of those involved was recorded before and after the activity was carried out. The initiative showed the importance of the field for understanding socio-environmental issues and the expectation of return created in the community from opening dialogue.

Download Link: https://www.editorafi.org/19rios

We note that for each chapter the Portuguese version is followed immediately by the English version.

Assessment of inter-and trans-disciplinary collaboration between participants of the International Network of Amazon Dam Research (RBA): initial results of the Palmas workshop

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The latest article in the first section of the e-book is an ′′Assessment of inter-and trans-disciplinary collaboration between participants of the International Network of Amazon Dam Research (RBA): initial results of the Palmas workshop”. The lifting showed that network members generally conduct a positive attitude towards international research and collaboration and currently engage or have engaged in multi, inter and transdisciplinary work.

It also showed that most network researchers are strongly connected to each other, both collaborating and communicating about dam related works. Thus, initial discoveries indicate that the RBA is developing inter-and trans-disciplinary collaboration, as evidenced in the various ways in which different members interact with researchers from different disciplines, along with government and community entities.

Download Link: https://www.editorafi.org/19rios

We note that for each chapter the Portuguese version is followed immediately by the English version.

Making academic language more accessible to people who have no contact with scientific writing

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Neste vídeo, um grupo de estudantes apresenta resultados de um projeto cujo objetivo é tornar a linguagem acadêmica mais acessível às pessoas que não têm contato com a escrita científica. Trata-se de uma importante ferramenta de governança para auxiliar na consciência da comunidade geral sobre questões pertinentes inacessíveis, contribuindo no processo de decisão livre e consciente no debate público, nesse específico caso, sobre as consequências de projetos hidrelétricos.

In this video, a group of students present results of a project whose objective is to make academic language more accessible to people who have no contact with scientific writing. It is an important governance tool to help raise awareness among the non-scientists in the community about pertinent but often inaccessible issues and to contribute to enabling greater free and informed decision-making process in public debate, in this specific case, about the consequences of hydroelectric projects.

Elaborado pelo Grupo de Pesquisa em Direito, Território & Amazônia- DITERRA, Fundação Universidade Federal de Rondônia- UNIR
Autores: Neiva Araujo, Luís Fernando Novoa Garzon, Amanda Serafim, Anny Karolline Valério, João Victor Carneiro e Vânia dos Santos

Link: https://youtu.be/gcvbmEokypE