Conservation of freshwater biodiversity in key areas of the Colombian Amazon

Marcela Portocarrero‐Aya,Ian G Cowx

doi:10.1002/aqc.2582

Abstract

Abstract Little has been done to identify key conservation areas in the Amazonian freshwater ecosystems of Colombia. This research constitutes the first attempt to systematically identify important conservation areas in the freshwater ecosystems of the South of the Colombian Amazonian Trapezium. This effort considered not only fine filter targets (species) as central elements of decision making, but coarse filter targets (habitats), ecosystem services and social benefits, and threats. Owing to the complexity of the study area, a multi‐criteria assessment constituted a good approach to tackle the issues affecting a complex ecological, cultural, social, economic and political territory. Five sites stood out and were considered important as areas for targeted management: the Tarapoto Lakes System, Yahuarcaca Lakes System, Loreto‐Yacu River, and Mocagua Island (Colombia) and Caballo Cocha Lake (Peru). Biodiversity conservation initiatives as well as livelihood improvement projects are currently in motion in the area aiming to find a balance between resource use and local development. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Highlights

Terrestrial ecosystems can be interrupted or disconnected from each other with minimum impact, but freshwater systems are a continuum and maintaining connectivity between the myriad of habitats across the Trapezium is essential for any freshwater biodiversity conservation strategy
Improvements in the institutional structure and resourcing of the fishing authorities in the region is vital for the survival of the activity and to reduce the impacts it is having on freshwater ecosystems
Key areas for freshwater conservation were selected on the basis of their capacity to: a). preserve viable examples of the biodiversity within the ecological, social, economic and cultural dynamics; b). protect areas with special biological significance, key to the maintenance of important ecological processes within the limits of knowledge and available information; c). permit the existence of biodiversity in the long term under conservation measures; and d) provide continuity among rivers and other aquatic habitats considering their longitudinal connection

Summary

Introduction

Several conservation strategies have been developed to overcome ecosystem degradation and biodiversity loss (Ruiz et al 2007), but these strategies have struggled to achieve their desired objectives and new more effective initiatives are sought to protect environmental assets and improve local communities’ livelihoods It has been shown, that identification of key conservation areas is an effective strategy to protect and support proper management and use of ecosystems and endangered species, helping in the maintenance of ecological processes, conserving species diversity and their genetic variability, maintaining the productive capacities of the ecosystems and the historical and cultural characteristics of the local people, as well as contributing to the generation of opportunities of development for the communities. According to Groves et al (2000), they are considered dynamic groups of ecological aquatic communities joined by similar hydro-geomorphologic patterns and similar ecological processes or environmental gradients They provide important goods and services ranging from food and building materials to water cleansing, flood and erosion control, cycling of nutrients and flow of energy. Rehabilitation initiatives are not a reversal of degradation due to the complexity of the dynamics of these ecosystems, but may at least recover basic habitats that will support groups of species and allow continuity of vital ecological processes (Armanatrout 1995, Coates 1995, Welcomme 1995; 1997, CollaresPereira & Cowx 2004, FAO 2009)

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