Environmental considerations in energy planning for the Amazon region: Downstream effects of dams

被引:68
作者
Manyari, Waleska Valenca [1 ]
de Carvalho, Osmar Abilio, Jr. [2 ]
机构
[1] Univ Fed Rio de Janeiro, Energy & Environm Planning Programme, BR-21949972 Rio De Janeiro, RJ, Brazil
[2] Univ Brasilia, Dept Geog, BR-70910900 Brasilia, DF, Brazil
关键词
Amazon region; hydroelectric power plant; downstream environmental impacts;
D O I
10.1016/j.enpol.2007.07.031
中图分类号
F [经济];
学科分类号
02 ;
摘要
The most salient current feature of the electric energy sector in Brazil is the pressing need for expansion. In this context, the hydroelectric resources of the Amazon region are considered a competitive alternative despite the structural problems they entail. These include reliance of new investments and environmental restrictions. Concerning the latter, plans to build large-scale dams in the region have drawn criticism mainly on account of the loss of forest cover in areas flooded by dam reservoirs and the conflicts concerning the relocation of indigenous and riverside communities in the region. This article seeks to contribute to better understanding of the environmental issue in the Amazon by focusing attention on the downstream effects of dams, which have large-scale, hitherto neglected ecological repercussions. The impact of dams extends well beyond the area surrounding the artificial lakes they create, harming rich Amazon wetland ecosystems. The morphology of dammed rivers changes in response to new inputs of energy and matter, which may in turn destroy certain biotopes. This is a remote-sensing-based case study of the Tucurui hydroelectric scheme in the Amazon state of Para. Attention is drawn to the need to take into account effects on alluvial rivers downstream from hydroelectric power plants when it comes to making planning decisions, as part of a sustainable energy policy. (C) 2007 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.
引用
收藏
页码:6526 / 6534
页数:9
相关论文
共 16 条
[2]   THE DEPENDENCE OF FISH COMMUNITY STRUCTURE AND DYNAMICS ON FLOODPLAIN AND RIPARIAN ECOTONE ZONE IN PARANA RIVER, BRAZIL [J].
AGOSTINHO, AA ;
ZALEWSKI, M .
HYDROBIOLOGIA, 1995, 303 (1-3) :141-148
[3]   HYDROMORPHOLOGICAL CONSEQUENCES OF REGULATING THE LOWER VISTULA, POLAND [J].
BABINSKI, Z .
REGULATED RIVERS-RESEARCH & MANAGEMENT, 1992, 7 (04) :337-348
[4]   CHANNEL MORPHOLOGY BELOW RESERVOIR STORAGE PROJECTS [J].
BUMA, PG ;
DAY, JC .
ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION, 1977, 4 (04) :279-284
[5]   CAUSES OF RIVER BED DEGRADATION [J].
GALAY, VJ .
WATER RESOURCES RESEARCH, 1983, 19 (05) :1057-1090
[6]   CHANGES IN BRAIDED RIVER MORPHOLOGY RESULTING FROM AGGRADATION AND DEGRADATION [J].
GERMANOSKI, D ;
SCHUMM, SA .
JOURNAL OF GEOLOGY, 1993, 101 (04) :451-466
[7]   Fluvial geomorphology and river engineering: future roles utilizing a fluvial hydrosystems framework [J].
Gilvear, DJ .
GEOMORPHOLOGY, 1999, 31 (1-4) :229-245
[8]   WELSH FLOODPLAIN STUDIES - NATURE OF FLOODPLAIN GEOMETRY [J].
LEWIN, J ;
MANTON, MMM .
JOURNAL OF HYDROLOGY, 1975, 25 (1-2) :37-50
[9]   DOWNSTREAM ECOLOGICAL EFFECTS OF DAMS [J].
LIGON, FK ;
DIETRICH, WE ;
TRUSH, WJ .
BIOSCIENCE, 1995, 45 (03) :183-192
[10]  
MERONA B D, 1986, Acta Amazonica, V16-17, P109