Within tropical regions, many of the wetlands are associated with floodplains with the rivers often flowing through densely forested landscapes, as in the case of the Amazon and Congo Rivers and their tributaries. Characterizing these flood plain environments is important to ensure that the diverse habitats that occur and the forest, game, and fisheries resources that have historically supported local populations are used sustainably. In Brazilian Amazonia, for example, large areas of the flood plain environment (commonly referred to as várzea) have been designated as Sustainable Development Reserves . Within these, there is a need to assess and monitor biodiversity and ensure conservation planning is carried out in cooperation with local communities
