FIU Digital Commons FIU Digital Commons Energy development reveals blind spots for ecosystem Energy development reveals blind spots for ecosystem conservation in the Amazon Basin conservation in the Amazon Basin

New energy development irreversible alterations protected areas and Indigenous territories, the or prevailing conservation Energy development – as manifested by the proliferation of hydroelectric dams and increased oil and gas exploration – is a driver of change in Amazonian ecosystems. However, prevailing approaches to Amazonian ecosystem conservation that focus on terrestrial protected areas and Indigenous territories do not offer sufficient insurance against the risks associated with energy development. Here, we explore three related areas of concern: the exclusion of subsurface rights on Indigenous lands; the absence of frameworks for freshwater ecosystem conservation; and downgrading, downsizing, degazettement (loss of protection), and reclassification of protected areas. We consider these issues from the perspectives of multiple countries across the Amazon Basin, and link them directly to energy development. Finally, we offer suggestions for addressing the challenges of energy development for Amazon ecosystem conservation through existing policies, new approaches, and international collaboration.

新能源开发不可逆转地改变了保护区和原住民领地。能源开发——如水力发电大坝的增加以及油气勘探的增多所体现的那样——是亚马逊生态系统变化的一个驱动因素。然而，目前以陆地保护区和原住民领地为重点的亚马逊生态系统保护方法，无法为能源开发相关风险提供足够保障。在此，我们探讨三个相关的关注领域：原住民土地地下权被排除；缺乏淡水生态系统保护框架；保护区的降级、缩小、撤销（失去保护）以及重新分类。我们从亚马逊流域多个国家的角度考虑这些问题，并将它们与能源开发直接联系起来。最后，我们就通过现有政策、新方法以及国际合作来应对亚马逊生态系统保护中能源开发带来的挑战提出建议。