MABE Consortium
Strengthening Environmental Management in the Brazilian Southwestern Amazon

Partners

• University of Florida (lead institution)
• Instituto de Pesquisas da Amazônia (IPAM)- consortium partner
• SOS Amazônia - consortium partner
• Woods Hole Research Center (WHRC) - consortium partner

The objective is to strengthen environmental governance by expanding capacity for public participation in decision-making that deals with conservation threats related to watershed management and road building. Improved management of watersheds will not only conserve riparian habitat for many species, but will also improve water availability and water quality for local human populations.

The project has two specific objectives:

1) Generate examples of collaborative management of sub-basin watersheds of the Juruá river watershed that can be replicated in other watersheds in Amazonia.

2) Participatory planning for sustainable development along highways in the Brazilian southwestern Amazon with links to Pacific ports.

The Geographic focus of Objective 1 is the Paraná dos Mouras and Liberdade sub-basins that comprise the Alto Juruá Water Resource Management Area. Objective 2 will focus on four areas that may prove to be especially vulnerable to secondary impacts of road paving: (a) BR-317 from Boca do Acre and Labrea, AM, to Senador Guiomard and Porto Acre, AC; (b) BR-317 from Senador Guiomard to Placido de Castro, and Capixaba, AC; (c) BR-317 from Xapuri to Epitaciolandia, AC; and (c) BR-364 from Sena Madureira to Manoel Urbano, AC.