Brazil is losing natural surface water rapidly due to climate change and land conversion, with a loss of 400,000 hectares reported from 2023 to 2024. The Amazon, holding a significant portion of Brazil’s freshwater, has experienced drastic reductions in surface water. Immediate adaptive management strategies are deemed necessary to counteract these losses ahead of the upcoming COP30 conference.
Brazil, possessing 12 percent of the world’s freshwater reserves, particularly in the Amazon, is experiencing a significant decline in natural surface water due to climate change and land conversion. According to a recent report, the country lost 400,000 hectares of aquatic surface from 2023 to 2024, which is comparable to the size of Rhode Island. Since 1985, Brazil has experienced a loss of approximately 2.4 million hectares of river and lake surface primarily caused by drought, urban development, and excessive aquifer extraction.
In the past 16 years, 2022 was the sole year reporting an increase in surface water. The report emphasized the severe impacts of land usage dynamics and extreme climate events on Brazil’s hydration landscape. Juliano Schirmbeck, coordinator of the MapBiomas Agua report, highlighted the urgency for adaptive water management strategies and public policies to mitigate this concerning trend.
Brazil is set to host the COP30 UN climate conference in November in Belém, the capital of the Amazonian state of Pará. With the Amazon housing nearly two-thirds of Brazil’s surface water, it is paramount for climate regulation by absorbing carbon dioxide. The report indicated that the available surface water in the Amazon decreased by 4.5 million hectares compared to the previous year, an area similar to Denmark.
The Pantanal wetlands, which endured severe droughts and wildfires last year, were particularly hit, showing a water surface area 61 percent below the average since 1985. While human-created water bodies, such as reservoirs and dams, have increased by 54 percent since 1985, they have not sufficiently compensated for the loss of natural freshwater sources.
In summary, Brazil faces a critical decrease in natural surface water due to climate change and land conversion, with significant losses reported by MapBiomas. The need for immediate and effective water management strategies is paramount to address this alarming trend and protect the vital ecosystem functions provided by the Amazon and other biomes. Efforts are necessary to reverse this decline ahead of critical international discussions at COP30.
Original Source: www.ndtv.com
