14 - Rising Above the Flood: Modifications in Agricultural Practices and Livelihood Systems in Central Amazonia – Perspectives from Ribeirinho and Indigenous Communities

Summary

The objective of this chapter is to describe the ways in which traditional (ribeirinho) and Indigenous (Cocama) farmers of Central Amazonia are modifying their agricultural and livelihood practices in response to extreme flood events, linked to global climate change, which have occurred over the last ten years. Data were gathered through observation and semi-structured interviews conducted by researchers and technicians of the Mamirauá Institute for Sustainable Development, Brazil. Farmers from upland and floodplain environments agree that large floods are more frequent in the region. Extreme floods have resulted in the disappearance of farmers’ local varieties of manioc and diverse fruit species. Residents also discuss the social consequences of floods, including cyclical migration of families between upland and lowland areas and a deteriorating quality of community life during floods. While our initial results demonstrate farmers’ abilities to adapt in the face of rapid global change, we continue to try to understand the processes of ongoing social, economic and environmental change and the extent and limits of local adaptive capacity.