Introduction to the Amazon's Climate Challenge
The Amazon, known for its rich biodiversity and cultural heritage, faces one of the greatest challenges in its history: climate change. A recent study published in Nature, conducted by Rodrigo Camara-Leret and Jordi Bascompte, from the University of Zurich, and Patrick Roehrdanz, from the Moore Center for Conservation International, highlights the threat that climate change poses to the region's biocultural heritage.
What's Happening: Concrete Facts
Amazonian societies use around 5,800 plant species for various purposes, including medicine, food, and rituals. However, climate change can significantly reduce the availability of these native plant species, putting the region's culture and traditional knowledge at risk. According to the research, nearly a third of plant species may disappear, which represents a significant loss for biodiversity and local communities.
Why It Matters: Stakes and Impacts
The reduction of culturally important plants, combined with the projected extinction of indigenous languages, may result in the loss of about a quarter of the documented knowledge about the use of Amazonian plant species by the end of the century. This not only affects biodiversity but also the cultural identity and resilience of indigenous communities. The loss of languages and traditional knowledge is irreversible and has profound implications for humanity as a whole.
The Mechanism Behind the Changes: Science and Climate Processes
Researchers used an innovative approach, gathering over 90,000 records of Amazonian plant use by indigenous peoples, dated between 1504 and 2023. These records were analyzed together with the situation of the languages in which they were written, revealing that more than half of the reports on native plants were recorded in 156 indigenous languages, 56% of which are threatened with extinction. Additionally, scientists modeled the impacts of climate change on species distribution in three different scenarios, highlighting the urgency of action to mitigate these effects.
Broad Context: Trends and Previous Research
The Amazon is a global center of biological and cultural heritage, hosting over 10% of the world's terrestrial biodiversity and more than 400 indigenous groups. However, the region has already suffered significantly from the degradation and fragmentation of nearly 300 million hectares of the Amazon Basin. The loss of indigenous cultures and their languages is a critical problem, reinforced by researcher Victoria Reyes-García, from the Autonomous University of Barcelona, in a commentary accompanying the study.
What's Next: Implications and Future Challenges
Projections indicate average local losses of plant species ranging from 28% to 34%, depending on the climate scenario considered. These reductions can have critical consequences for Amazonian societies, compromising biodiversity and community resilience. It is essential that effective mitigation and conservation actions are adopted to protect the Amazon and its biocultural heritage, ensuring a more sustainable future for current and future generations.
Conclusion: A Call to Action
The Amazon is facing an unprecedented challenge. The loss of biodiversity and cultural knowledge is not just a local problem, but a global challenge that requires a coordinated and effective response. It's time to act to protect the Amazon and its biocultural heritage, ensuring a prosperous and sustainable future for all.
Source / Reference
This article was based on a study published in Nature and available at https://climainfo.org.br/2026/07/09/mudancas-climaticas-ameacam-patrimonio-biocultural-da-amazonia/. We thank ClimaInfo for providing access to this important information.