The Amazon’s Tapajos Basin is in danger

Blogpost by Maïa Booker

Blogpost by Maïa Booker 
The Brazilian government is currently gearing up to build dozens of energy-producing megadams in the Amazon. São Luiz do Tapajos will be one of the largest – second only to Belo Monte. If it is built, it will devastate the rich biodiversity in the area – an area which contains endemic species, and is surrounded by several legally protected areas, and will potentially change the way of life for the Indigenous Peoples that live there.

Munduruku leadership walking along the Tapajos river.

Its valley is home to 12,000 indigenous Munduruku people, whose lives are deeply entwined with the river and surrounding forest. During the construction of the dam, it's likely that part of the Munduruku lands will be flooded, forcing them to be displaced from their traditional lands and affecting their cultural survival. And even though this dam will be built on their lands, the Munduruku were never consulted in the planning process.

 
A researcher studies a lake formed in the ebb of the Tapajos river, where the Munduruku usually fish to feed their people. If the hydro dam is built, lakes like this one may get flooded permanently, affecting the availability of fish for indigenous people in the region who depend on fishing to survive.

If this dam is built, a unique part of the Amazon could be lost for good. That's why Greenpeace Brazil has joined forces with the Munduruku people and other allies to oppose the Brazilian government's plans and keep the Tapajos area free from construction.

Luciano Naka, one of the authors of the analysis watches local birds on an island in the Tapajos river, which could be flooded if the dam is built.

Munduruku leadership speaks during the meeting with researchers and the Federal Prosecution Service about the impacts of the São Luiz do Tapajos dam.

Greenpeace Brazil conducted an independent analysis of the official Environmental Impact Assessment – a report presented by power utility companies which is supposed to inform decision-makers about potential environmental and social impacts of such projects. The study was led by nine scientists and experts from various Brazilian institutions. It shows that the Environmental Impact Assessment doesn't fulfill its role to properly inform decision-makers about the risks of building this dam, but only serves to justify the decision already made – to go ahead with construction.

Munduruku people perform a ritual during the meeting with researchers and the Federal Prosecution Service about the impacts of the São Luiz do Tapajos megadam.

In the last couple of days, Greenpeace Brazil and Munduruku leadership have come together for a "Sage Gathering" in the Dace Waptu village, Para state, Amazon, with two of the scientists, to meet and discuss their findings.

Munduruku leaderships participating in the meeting with researchers and the Federal Prosecution Service about the impacts of the São Luiz do Tapajos dam.

Felício Pontes Jr., Federal Prosecutor of Pará, joins the meeting with Munduruku leadership and researchers about the potential impact of the São Luiz do Tapajos megadam

Bidding for construction of the São Luiz do Tapajos dam has been postponed until next year due to differences over Indigenous Peoples' rights.

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Maïa Booker is a Multimedia Editor for the Americas at Greenpeace.