São Luiz do Tapajós Dam

The São Luiz do Tapajós Dam is expected to be the second largest hydroelectric in Brazil, after Belo Monte.[1] It would have an installed capacity of 8,040 MW and its reservoir would cover about 400 km2 in the Tapajós river basin.[2]

In April 2016 IBAMA suspended, but not entirely cancelled, the environmental licensing process for the project due to its expected impacts on indigenous and river communities.[3] The conflict around the São Luiz do Tapajós mega dam has been referred as the next battle over saving the Amazon, as a result of its controversy involving Indigenous communities, the Brazilian government, large multinationals and international environmental organizations.[4] Critics say that, the project will result in deforestation and harm biodiversity, affecting the migratory movements of several species of ornamental fish and destroying nests of Macaw.[5]

Licensing process

The Brazilian environmental agency, IBAMA decided to suspend the environmental licensing process for the Tapajós mega dam following a report published by the Brazilian bureau for Indigenous Affairs, FUNAI, which points to the infeasability of the project from an indigenous perspective since it would affect the land of the local Munduruku people. In its report, FUNAI recommends the demarcation of 1,780 square kilometers (687 square miles)[6] of indigenous Munduruku territory, known as Sawré Muybu, in the vicinity of the proposed mega dam.[7]

References

  1. ↑ http://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/apr/22/brazil-amazon-dam-project-suspended-indigenous-munduruku-sao-luiz-do-tapajos
  2. ↑ http://www.greenpeace.org/international/Global/brasil/documentos/2016/Greenpeace_Damning_The_Amazon-The_Risky_Business_Of_Hydropower_In_The_Amazon-2016.pdf
  3. ↑ http://news.mongabay.com/2016/04/amazon-mega-dam-suspended-hope-indigenous-people-biodiversity/
  4. ↑ https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/energy-environment/wp/2016/04/15/this-will-be-the-next-battle-over-saving-the-amazon/
  5. ↑ Usinas hidrelétricas no Rio Tapajós alagarão áreas protegidas. Folha Online
  6. ↑ "Amazon mega-dam suspended, providing hope for indigenous people and biodiversity". Conservation news. Mongabay. Retrieved 2016-04-25.
  7. ↑ "Brazil Suspends Licensing of Controversial Amazon Dam". International Rivers. Retrieved 2016-04-25.

Coordinates: 4°36′13.4″S 56°17′04.2″W / 4.603722°S 56.284500°W / -4.603722; -56.284500

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