Brazil is losing its natural freshwater reserves due to climate change and land conversion. In the past year alone, the country lost 400,000 hectares of surface water, with the Amazon region being significantly affected. Experts emphasize the need for adaptive water management strategies as Brazil prepares to host the COP30 climate conference.
A recent report indicates that despite being home to 12 percent of the world’s freshwater, Brazil is experiencing significant losses in its natural surface water. Factors contributing to this decline include climate change and the conversion of forests into agricultural land. From 2023 to 2024, Brazil lost an area of aquatic surface equivalent to approximately 400,000 hectares, reminiscent of the size of Rhode Island.
Over the past 16 years, only the year 2022 witnessed an increase in surface water, while the nation has lost roughly 2.4 million hectares of rivers and lakes since 1985. This loss is attributed to drought, urban development, and the excessive pumping of aquifers. Juliano Schirmbeck, coordinator of the MapBiomas Agua report, emphasized that this situation is due to both land use dynamics and extreme climatic events induced by global warming.
Schirmbeck urged for the immediate need for adaptive water management strategies and public policies aimed at reversing these alarming trends. In a related context, Brazil is set to host the COP30 UN climate conference in November, focusing on the critical climate concerns affecting the Amazon.
The report highlights that Brazil’s Amazon region, which is essential for carbon dioxide absorption and climate regulation, is witnessing a notable contraction of surface water, with a reduction of 4.5 million hectares over the last year alone. Furthermore, the Pantanal wetlands, significantly affected by drought and wildfires, recorded a 61 percent decrease in water surface compared to the average since 1985. While there has been a 54 percent expansion in human-made water bodies such as reservoirs and dams since 1985, this increase has not compensated for the substantial loss of natural freshwater sources.
The report underlines Brazil’s severe challenges regarding freshwater resources, exacerbated by climate change and land use changes. The loss of significant aquatic surface areas indicates an urgent need for adaptive management and policy interventions. As Brazil prepares to host the COP30 conference, the situation may galvanize global attention towards sustainable water and climate strategies.
Original Source: www.bssnews.net
