Synthesis of the land carbon fluxes of the Amazon region between 2010 and 2020

The Amazon is the largest continuous tropical forest in the world and plays a key role in the global carbon cycle. Human-induced disturbances and climate change have impacted the Amazon carbon balance. Here we conduct a comprehensive synthesis of existing state-of-the-art estimates of the contemporary land carbon fluxes in the Amazon using a set of bottom-up methods (i.e., dynamic vegetation models and bookkeeping models) and a top-down inversion (atmospheric inversion model) over the Brazilian Amazon and the whole Biogeographical Amazon domain. Over the whole biogeographical Amazon region bottom-up methodologies suggest a small average carbon sink over 2010-2020, in contrast to a small carbon source simulated by top-down inversion (2010-2018). However, these estimates are not significantly different from one another when accounting for their large individual uncertainties, highlighting remaining knowledge gaps, and the urgent need to reduce such uncertainties. Nevertheless, both methodologies agreed that the Brazilian Amazon has been a net carbon source during recent climate extremes and that the south-eastern Amazon was a net land carbon source over the whole study period (2010-2020). Overall, our results point to increasing human-induced disturbances (deforestation and forest degradation by wildfires) and reduction in the old-growth forest sink during drought

Environmental Threats over Amazonian Indigenous Lands

This study investigates the main threats related to environmental degradation that affect Amazonian Indigenous Lands (ILs). Through a cluster analysis, we group ILs according to the set of common environmental threats that occur within and outside their limits. The results show that most of the 383 ILs are affected internally by a combination of different environmental threats, namely: deforestation, forest degradation, fires, mining, croplands, pastures, and roads. However, the ILs affected by multiple and relatively severe threats are mainly located in the arc of deforestation and the Roraima state. The threats related to forest loss (deforestation, forest degradation, and fires) are more intense in the ILs’ buffer zones than within, showing that ILs effectively promote environmental preservation. In the cluster analysis, we identified seven clusters that are characterized by common environmental threats within and around their limits, and, based on these results, we have outlined four environmental policy priorities to be strengthened and applied in Amazonian ILs: protecting ILs’ buffer zones; strengthening surveillance actions, and combating illegal deforestation, forest degradation, and mining activities in ILs; preventing and fighting fires; and removing invaders from all ILs in the Amazon. In this study, we warn that the threats presented make the Indigenous peoples in the Amazon more vulnerable. To guarantee indigenous peoples’ rights, illegal actions in these territories and their surroundings must be contained, and quickly

Anthropogenic pressure index on biomes (APIB): scenarios for Brazil 2050

<p>Anthropogenic transformations in the terrestrial biosphere have become increasingly significant and concerning. Whether through agriculture, silviculture, industrialization, and/or urbanization, these disturbances alter fundamental biogeochemical cycles and contribute to the addition or removal of genetically distinct species and populations from or to habitats in most terrestrial ecosystems, thus compromising the sustainability of ecological processes and the provision of ecosystem goods and services. In the short term, the primary threats to biodiversity arising from human activities include habitat loss and fragmentation. According to global assessments, the number of species at risk of extinction has increased, and the size of species populations has decreased.</p><p>Understanding the future of land use and land cover changes in Brazil and their impact on ecosystems is essential for the future of climate and biodiversity. Therefore, an Anthropogenic Pressure Index on Biomes (APIB) was developed to establish the level and distribution of anthropogenic pressure on biodiversity in Brazilian territories. This allowed for the analysis of the dynamics of anthropogenic pressure on biodiversity based on future scenarios of land use and land cover change and the identification of regions that are internally homogeneous and heterogeneous regarding the dynamics of this pressure in different scenarios.</p><p>For the development of APIB, the following spatially explicit factors related to anthropogenic pressure on biomes were considered: a) land use and land cover (forest vegetation, grassland vegetation, planted pasture, agriculture, mosaic of occupation, and forestry); b) rivers; c) protected areas; d) agricultural establishments; e) highways; and f) hydroelectric projects. Three scenarios of land use and land cover change were considered: a) the sustainable development scenario (SSP1), combined with a strict climate policy (RCP 1.9); b) the intermediate road development scenario (SSP2 and RCP 4.5); and c) the scenario of high inequality, which associates SSP3 with RCP 7.0.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Data</strong></p><p>Anthropogenic Pressure Index on Biomes (APIB) value.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Spatial resolution</strong></p><p>The data is available at a spatial resolution of 0.083º x 0.083º (~100 km²) and covers the entire Brazilian territory.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Temporal resolution </strong></p><p>Period of observed data: 2000 and 2014</p><p>Scenario Period: 2050</p><p> </p><p><strong>Coordinate reference system</strong> </p><p>Geographic Coordinate System with Datum SIRGAS 2000 (EPSG:5880)</p><p> </p><p><strong>Data format</strong></p><p>Data is provided as Shapefile.</p><p> </p><p><strong>Dataset usage</strong> </p><p>It is free to use, but please make sure to cite the repository and our paper properly if you use this dataset.</p><p>F. G. S. Bezerra, <i>et al.</i>, Spatio-temporal analysis of dynamics and future scenarios of anthropic pressure on biomes in Brazil. <i>Ecol Indic</i> <strong>137</strong> (2022). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ecolind.2022.108749</p><p> </p><p><strong>Publication & further information</strong></p><p>For additional scenario information, please contact Francisco Gilney Silva Bezerra ([email protected]).</p><p> </p><p><strong>Acknowledgments</strong></p><p>The authors would like to thank the São Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP, project number 2017/22269-2 and Nexus Project) for their support in the development of this study.</p&gt

Relatório dos Diálogos Multiescala 3H-CLD dos Projetos NEXUS e XPATHS

<p>Este documento sintetiza os primeiros desdobramentos do diálogo participativo promovido nos projetos NEXUS e XPaths para a discussão de futuros sustentáveis, em particular no contexto dos 17 Objetivos do Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS) da ONU para 2030. O projeto NEXUS Caatinga e Cerrado se concentra na transição para a sustentabilidade nos biomas Cerrado e Caatinga, especialmente na Bacia Hidrográfica do Rio São Francisco, gerando cenários e indicadores que abrangem aspectos econômicos, sociais e ambientais. Paralelamente, o projeto XPaths busca compreender as barreiras e oportunidades para alcançar os ODS em regiões semiáridas do Brasil, Espanha e Senegal, promovendo planos de ação estratégicos.</p><p>Ambos os projetos conduziram oficinas participativas em diversas escalas ao longo de 2021 e 2022, congregando diferentes visões sobre futuros sustentáveis e justos para a região. O processo envolveu três conjuntos de municípios no Semiárido brasileiro - Campina Grande, Petrolina/Juazeiro e Barreiras - selecionados pela interseção com o nexus água-agricultura-energia e suas características distintas.</p><p>A base metodológica das oficinas combina o diagrama dos Três Horizontes com ferramentas de pensamento sistêmico e processos criativos. Em cada oficina, discutimos sobre o(s) 'futuro(s) desejado(s)' além de pensar em estratégias sobre como alcançá-los, a partir de uma análise sistêmica sobre os principais problemas do presente.  Mais de 100 participantes de diferentes setores e contextos geográficos contribuíram para essas discussões.</p><p>Este relatório descreve a metodologia do diálogo participativo e apresenta uma síntese dos resultados das oficinas em cada escala, fornecendo uma base para análises posteriores nos Projetos NEXUS e XPaths. </p&gt