Exploring nature's rights for coasts is urgent as rising seas, marine heatwaves, and storms increasingly threaten ecosystems, biodiversity, and livelihoods. New legal propositions currently under discussion in the Brazilian Congress will have important consequences for coastal ecosystems and the people that rely on them (i.e., Proposed Constitutional Amendment, PEC 3/2022). Here, we navigate through some of these recent debates to highlight opportunities for pioneering legislation reforms that target coastal conservation in Brazil. The successful case of public engagement to resist PEC 3/2022 sheds light on the potential of Brazilian people’s support to advance nature protection, starting from the littoral zones. Given the fragility of coastal protection in the country, integrating ethical dimensions through the lens of rights of nature provides a powerful framework for more effective science-based conservation. The key takeaway is that granting rights to coasts, backed by civic engagement, could foster their ecological resilience to escalating human threats.

Birds play a crucial role in providing ecosystem services (ES) that are essential for ecosystem functioning. However, human pressures such as land-use change, climate change, and overexploitation have caused declines in bird populations worldwide, particularly in tropical areas. Bird defaunation thus can severely affect network structures, trophic cascade, and the provision of essential ES in tropical forests. Endemic and threatened bird species face an imminent risk of extinction due to human pressures, making them a relevant group for exploring potential impacts of defaunation on ecosystem services. Using ecological network metrics and the geographic ranges of 65 endemic and threatened Atlantic Forest bird species, we investigated the impact of bird defaunation on ES within the Atlantic Forest under different defaunation scenarios (low [range: 10-50%], medium [30-85%] and high [50-90%] defaunation) according to species threat levels. Our findings showed that ecological network structure remained relatively stable across defaunation scenarios, but defaunation led to a substantial reduction in ES (especially under medium to high defaunation rates). These results highlight ecosystem services that may be particularly sensitive to defaunation scenarios involving threatened species. Conservation efforts, such as expanding protected areas, implementing forest restoration and deforestation control measures, and eradicating overhunting, are important to ensure the persistence of endemic and threatened birds and to maintain the ecological interactions that support ecosystem services in the Atlantic Forest.

Globally, Indigenous peoples and local communities (IPs and LCs) are fighting for the recognition of their knowledge and decision-making authority in freshwater conservation. In the Amazon, decision-making around freshwater management and conservation has often overlooked Indigenous and local knowledge (ILK) and the connections between sociocultural and freshwater systems. We explored interdependencies between IPs and LCs and freshwaters in the Amazonian region through a narrative review of the academic peer-reviewed literature. The review process involved 2 phases: an initial scoping phase, which included the analysis of a large number of articles to identify main topics and develop research questions, and the review of a subset of 187 articles published from 2018 to 2022. We found that 178 studies were carried out in the Brazilian, Peruvian, and/or Bolivian Amazon, and 26 studies were conducted in other countries. A total of 60 studies focused on riverine communities and among them, 16 Indigenous groups were mentioned in 51 articles. Most studies (n = 148) emphasized the connections between water quality, fisheries, food security, health, and livelihoods. There was a paucity of studies conducted by IPs and LCs that had Indigenous or local community members among the authors. Recent studies highlighted the active role of IPs and LCs in leading community-based management efforts. We found innovative freshwater conservation and management experiences led by IPs and LCs, that effectively conserved freshwater biodiversity while promoting sustainable livelihoods. Our findings support inclusive and equitable freshwater conservation policies and practices in the Amazon and beyond, by showing the crucial role of IPs and LCs in managing and protecting freshwater resources.

Biodiversity Hotspots (Hotspots), harboring exceptionally rich small-ranged species, are critical for mitigating biodiversity loss. As priorities for terrestrial conservation, Hotspots increasingly face threats from agriculture, the largest anthropogenic disturbance impacting biodiversity. Yet, the spatial dynamics of agricultural expansion and its impacts on biodiversity, especially small-ranged vertebrates, remain poorly understood. Using site-level observations and satellite imagery, we found that agricultural pressures reduce species richness by 25.8

Amazon freshwater systems influence global hydroclimatic patterns, host unparalleled biological diversity, and support unique social-ecological systems. Rivers of the Western Amazon underpin this global importance with an outsized, underrecognized role at the Amazon Basin scale. Here we examined the status of several components-hydrology, sediments, freshwater fish biodiversity, and longitudinal river connectivity-that support the ecological integrity of Western Amazon rivers and their linkage to the greater Amazon Basin. Streamflow is largely driven by precipitation and the region supplies nearly all sediments delivered by the Amazon River to the Atlantic Ocean. The Western Amazon harbors 74% of the ichthyofauna of the entire Amazon Basin. Existing dams and road crossings have disrupted longitudinal river connectivity on several rivers. We estimated that 47.8 million people reside in the Amazon Basin, with more than half (58%) inhabiting the Western Amazon. This study helps establish a baseline for tracking change in Western Amazon river ecosystems.

Despite the recognized need to address global inequalities in conservation research, there has been little effort to understand and address the concomitant lack of higher education capacity in biodiversity conservation, particularly in the Global South. This hampers international efforts to meet goals in conservation planning, policy, and practice, including those defined by the Kunming-Montreal Global Biodiversity Framework. In this study, we surveyed universities and conservation practitioners across 48 priority countries - those with high conservation value, moderate education index, and low-to-moderate research productivity - to assess the global status and needs of higher education in biodiversity conservation. Our results highlight substantial opportunity to develop educational capacity where it is most needed, with 44 % of priority countries (61 % of universities) lacking any degree programs focused on biodiversity conservation, and 93 % of survey respondents wishing to strengthen or expand their curricula. The lack of educational opportunities was the main factor cited for why half of the surveyed conservation practitioners pursued their education abroad, and why 55 % believe that the educational offerings in their country are insufficient to train the next generation of conservation leaders. Survey results were remarkably consistent in describing how the broader conservation community can best support the development of educational capacity in priority countries: pursue collaborative research and knowledge exchange, expand internship and job opportunities, and improve student funding. These actions will require the initiative and resources of external partners, including conservation NGOs, government agencies, international researchers, and other universities. Developing this capacity merits conscientious effort from the global conservation community.

Amazonian freshwaters have large influences on regional and global climate, harbor remarkable and unique species, and are vital to human society. Nevertheless, as compared to their terrestrial counterparts in the Amazon, these freshwaters have received less attention from the international conservation community. There is an urgent need to better integrate Amazonian freshwaters into conservation strategies. To guide this integration, we suggest an approach built upon three foundational pillars: hydroclimate, biodiversity, and human dimensions. The hydroclimate pillar reflects the Amazon’s role in regional and global climate, water cycling, and carbon storage. The biodiversity pillar reflects the unparalleled variety of freshwater species and their role in ecosystems, emphasizing endemism and ecological function. The human dimensions pillar reflects the rich biocultural heritage of the Amazonian peoples and their reliance on freshwaters for millennia. Heightened attention to these three pillars can help steer the way to a more sustainable future for Amazonian freshwaters.

Anthropogenic stressors have cumulative environmental impacts that threaten marine ecosystems' biodiversity. Establishing marine protected areas (MPAs) has emerged as a crucial tool to address these challenges. Our study identified priority areas for the conservation of Bryde's whales (Balaenoptera brydei) and bottlenose dolphins (Tursiops truncatus) along the Brazilian coast by evaluating their exposure to anthropogenic stressors and their overlap with existing MPAs. Suitability modeling was used to pinpoint optimal habitats for each species, employing variables such as current velocity, depth, primary productivity, sea surface salinity, sea surface temperature, and seabed slope. Results showed that southeastern Brazil, a region with intense anthropogenic stressors, contains the most suitable habitats for these species, characterized by nutrient-rich waters with higher primary productivity. Although this region contains the most robust MPAs, many are coastal and do not cover oceanic zones heavily impacted by anthropogenic stressors. Considering the region's economic significance and escalating human pressures, prioritizing conservation efforts and implementing measures to mitigate conflicts between biodiversity conservation and anthropogenic stressors are imperative. Our findings underline the need for enhanced management and conservation strategies for Bryde's whales and bottlenose dolphins in Brazilian waters.

We present an overview of the globally threatened wild bird species, their distribution, threats and directions to mitigate pressures. Regions with the highest numbers of threatened birds include Asia, South America and Africa. When looking at the proportion of a region's avifauna endangered, however, Antarctica and New Zealand have exceptionally high proportions of their birds threatened. Sea and coastal birds, parrots, game species and raptors also have large fractions of species threatened. Despite many initiatives, most species continue in population decline due to threats, mainly caused by anthropic pressures, although there are success stories. Countries need to establish/improve joint public policies aimed at bird conservation.

AbstractDespite the importance of freshwater ecosystems to social‐ecological systems of the Amazon, conservation in the region historically has focused on terrestrial ecosystems. Moreover, current information on pressing management and conservation needs specific to freshwaters is scattered across multiple disciplines and generally focused on particular threats, habitats, and taxa. This disparateness of information limits the ability of researchers and practitioners to set priorities and implement actions that comprehensively address challenges faced by freshwater ecosystems. To reduce this research‐implementation gap, we reviewed the scientific literature on Amazon freshwater conservation to identify pressing actions to be taken and potential directions for their implementation. We identified 63 actions gleaned from 174 publications. These were classified into six major themes: (i) implement environmental flows, (ii) improve water quality, (iii) protect and restore critical habitats, (iv) manage exploitation of freshwater organisms, (v) prevent and control invasive species, and (vi) safeguard and restore freshwater connectivity. Although each action may face different implementation challenges, we propose three guiding principles to support action planning and decisions on‐the‐ground. We conclude with a reflection on potential future directions to place freshwaters into the center of policies and agreements that target the conservation of the Amazon.

The Amazon River Basin's extraordinary social-ecological system is sustained by various water phases, fluxes, and stores that are interconnected across the tropical Andes mountains, Amazon lowlands, and Atlantic Ocean. This "Andes-Amazon-Atlantic" (AAA) pathway is a complex hydroclimatic system linked by the regional water cycle through atmospheric circulation and continental hydrology. Here, we aim to articulate the AAA hydroclimate pathway as a foundational system for research, management, conservation, and governance of aquatic systems of the Amazon Basin. We identify and describe the AAA pathway as an interdependent, multidirectional, and multiscale hydroclimate system. We then present an assessment of recent (1981 to 2020) changes in the AAA pathway, primarily reflecting an acceleration in the rates of hydrologic fluxes (i.e., water cycle intensification). We discuss how the changing AAA pathway orchestrates and impacts social-ecological systems. We conclude with four recommendations for the sustainability of the AAA pathway in ongoing research, management, conservation, and governance.

Os ecossistemas aquáticos da Amazônia estão sendo destruídos e a expectativa é que as ameaças à sua integridade continuem a crescer em número e intensidade. Apresentamos neste estudo, alguns dos principais impactos sobre os ecossistemas aquáticos provocados por projetos de infraestrutura e práticas predatórias e ilegais.

Histological alterations in the skin and hair follicle of mice were evaluated as a result of the application of gel and cream formulas containing papain as a harmless treatment for hirsutism. Papain is a proteolytic enzyme and it has been used in pharmaceutical, cosmetic and nutrition areas. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of a depilatory product, through histological analysis using light microscopy. Gel and cream formulas containing papain were developed and daily applied on the back of two groups of mice for 31 days. The depilatory effect of the gel formula applied on the first group was less evident. The second group treated with the cream formula presented an intensive depilatory effect; the morphometrical analysis showed dilation of about 55% of the hair follicle lumen and an increase of the thickness of epidermis. Papain cream had a significantly higher depilatory effect than the papain gel.

Climate and land‐use changes are expected to negatively affect many species and ecological processes, leading to biodiversity loss. However, some species can adapt to these changes. Wide‐ranging species are expected to be less impacted by such changes, but they can occur in different domains with contrasting environmental conditions, resulting in different conservation statuses along their range. To understand whether a species will overall benefit or lose with global change, we evaluated the responses of a wide‐ranging but a vulnerable bird (Crax fasciolata) to separate and combined effects of climate and land‐use changes under different environmental policies in Brazil. Using ecological niche modeling and a land‐use model within the Brazilian political context, we quantified climatic, habitat, and environmental suitability for Crax fasciolata under historical (2000) and future (2050) scenarios. Our findings showed that environmental suitability can increase for Crax fasciolata in Brazil in future, but these effects vary according to the domain and the specific future scenario considered. Climatically suitable areas will increase in all scenarios, and those environmental scenarios that include better habitat conditions will provide more environmentally suitable areas for Crax fasciolata. However, this increase comes from newly suitable areas in the Atlantic Forest and the Amazon, while the Pantanal, the Caatinga, and the Cerrado will lose environmental suitability due to native vegetation loss. Despite the availability of these new areas, reduced landscape permeability may hinder Crax fasciolata from reaching them. This reinforces the urgent call for public policies for native vegetation protection, reforestation, and effective deforestation control.

TheInternationalUnionforConservation ofNature(IUCN)RedListofThreatenedSpeciesincludes assessment of extinction risk for 98 512 species, plus documentation of their range, habitat, elevation, and other factors. These range, habitat and elevation data can be matched with terrestrial land cover and elevation datasets to map the species’ area of habitat (AOH; also known as extent of suitable habitat; ESH). Thisdiffers from the two spatial metrics used for assessing extinction risk in the IUCN Red List criteria: extent of occurrence (EOO) and area of occupancy (AOO). AOH can guide conservation, for example, through targeting areas for field surveys, assessing proportions of species’ habitat within protected areas, and monitoring habitat loss and fragmentation. We recommend that IUCN Red List assessments document AOH wherever practical.

Este capítulo brinda una descripción general de la biodiversidad en la región amazónica, explica por qué esta región es tan rica en especies y eco-sistemas, y describe algunos procesos ecológicos sobresalientes que hacen de la Amazonía un ícono del mundo natural.

Invertebrates constitute the majority of animal species and are critical for ecosystem functioning and services. Nonetheless, global invertebrate biodiversity patterns and their congruences with vertebrates remain largely unknown. We resolve the first high-resolution (~20-km) global diversity map for a major invertebrate clade, ants, using biodiversity informatics, range modeling, and machine learning to synthesize existing knowledge and predict the distribution of undiscovered diversity. We find that ants and different vertebrate groups have distinct features in their patterns of richness and rarity, underscoring the need to consider a diversity of taxa in conservation. However, despite their phylogenetic and physiological divergence, ant distributions are not highly anomalous relative to variation among vertebrate clades. Furthermore, our models predict that rarity centers largely overlap (78%), suggesting that general forces shape endemism patterns across taxa. This raises confidence that conservation of areas important for small-ranged vertebrates will benefit invertebrates while providing a “treasure map” to guide future discovery.

The species-range size distribution is a product of speciation, transformation of range-sizes, and extinction. Previous empirical studies showed that it has a left-skewed lognormal-like distribution. We developed a new mathematical framework to study species-range-size distributions, one in which allopatric speciation, transformation of range size, and the extinction process are explicitly integrated. The approach, which we call the gain-loss-allopatric speciation model, allows us to explore the effects of various speciation scenarios. Our model captures key dynamics thought to lead to known range-size distributions. We also fitted the model to empirical range-size distributions of birds, mammals, and beetles. Since geographic range dynamics are linked to speciation and extinction, our model provides predictions for the dynamics of species richness. When a species-range-size distribution initially evolves away from the range sizes at which the likelihood of speciation is low, it tends to cause diversification slowdown even in the absence of (bio)diversity dependence in speciation rate. Using the mathematical model developed here, we give a potential explanation for how observed range-size distributions emerge from range-size dynamics. Although the framework presented is minimalistic, it provides a starting point for examining hypotheses based on more complex mechanisms.

Este capítulo discute as principais causas do desmatamento e da degradação florestal na Amazônia, especialmente a expansão agrícola, construção de estradas, exploração mineral e de petróleo e gás, queimadas, efeitos de borda, extração de madeira e caça. Também examina os impactos dessas atividades e das sinergias entre elas.

New energy development irreversible alterations protected areas and Indigenous territories, the or prevailing conservation Energy development – as manifested by the proliferation of hydroelectric dams and increased oil and gas exploration – is a driver of change in Amazonian ecosystems. However, prevailing approaches to Amazonian ecosystem conservation that focus on terrestrial protected areas and Indigenous territories do not offer sufficient insurance against the risks associated with energy development. Here, we explore three related areas of concern: the exclusion of subsurface rights on Indigenous lands; the absence of frameworks for freshwater ecosystem conservation; and downgrading, downsizing, degazettement (loss of protection), and reclassification of protected areas. We consider these issues from the perspectives of multiple countries across the Amazon Basin, and link them directly to energy development. Finally, we offer suggestions for addressing the challenges of energy development for Amazon ecosystem conservation through existing policies, new approaches, and international collaboration.