TCD Faculty leads publication calling for improved policies to address the impacts of small dams in the Amazon

Improving policies and instruments to address cumulative impacts of small hydropower in the Amazon

Authors: Simone Athayde, Carla G. Duarte, Amarilis L. C. F. Gallardo, Evandro M. Moretto, Luisa A. Sangoi, Ana Paula A. Dibo, Juliana Siqueira-Gay, Luis E. Sánchez

Summary: In this perspective article, we highlight current policy challenges and options for assessing the impacts of small hydroelectric plants in the Amazon, which deserve more attention in both academic research and public policies. We review environmental licensing of seven small and one large dam in the Cupari river, a Tapajós tributary, which is being challenged in Federal Courts based on inadequate cumulative impact assessment. We argue for the need of adopting good practices in cross-scale environmental assessment when applying existing or new policy instruments.

The article was co-produced by researchers of the Amazon Dams Research Network/ Rede Internacional de Pesquisa em Barragens Amazônicas/ Red Internacional de Investigación en Represas Amazónicas (ADN/RBA/RIRA), in collaboration with Luisa Sangoi, Public Prosecutor of the Brazilian Prosecution Service (MPF). From this experience, we formed a Working Group focusing on the Science-Policy interface related to Small Hydropower implementation in the Amazon and beyond. Recently, this group contributed to a public consultation by the Brazilian Agency for Electric Energy (ANEEL) for reviewing a bill defining the main characteristics of small dams in Brazil. The link to the “Technical Note” prepared by our working group in contribution to this policy is below. If you are interested in joining this working group, please let us know!

LINKS TO THE ARTICLE, BLOG AND POLICY-ORIENTED TECHNICAL NOTE:

1) Link to the original publication in English:

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S030142151930299X?via%3Dihub

2) Link to a Blog focusing on this article by Juliana Siqueira-Gay, published on the ADN/RBA/RIRA website:

When Small Is Not Beautiful: Neglecting Cumulative Social and Environmental Impacts of Small Dams in Amazon

3) Link to the “Technical Note” in contribution to the Review of the Bill 673/2015 on Small Dams:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333748829_Nota_Tecnica_Contribuicao_para_a_Audiencia_Publica_0132019_da_Agencia_Nacional_de_Energia_Eletrica_sobre_revisao_da_Resolucao_Normativa_6732015

4) Link to the article in Portuguese:

https://www.researchgate.net/publication/333865058_Aprimorando_politicas_e_instrumentos_para_o_estudo_de_impactos_cumulativos_de_Pequenas_Centrais_Hidreletricas_na_Amazonia​