The Castanheira dam project in the Amazon risks environmental and cultural damage, reveals a study led by an Indigenous organization.
Beatriz Jucá and Leandro Barbosa report for Mongabay.
In short:
- Indigenous communities face threats from the Castanheira hydroelectric project, potentially altering the Arinos River's course and flooding ancestral lands.
- The project, still awaiting environmental licensing, has raised concerns over social, environmental, and economic impacts.
- Studies indicate potential harm to river ecosystems, migratory fish species and local Indigenous cultures.
Key quote:
“They are going to flood the Tapayuna people’s history.” — Yaku Suya, Indigenous leader.
Why this matters:
Hydroelectric dams were once pitched as a renewable source of electricity with little downside once constructed. The reality is often much different, causing irreparable harm to ecosystems and upending Indigenous cultures.
