Case Study: The Nanay River, Perú
By Vanessa Correa Roldán MSc.
Department of Ichthyology of the Museum of Natural History of the Universidad Nacional Mayor de San Marcos
Background
The Nanay River is one of the main tributaries of the Amazon River in the Loreto Region in Peru. This riverscape is vital for both ecological and human communities. The headwaters of the Nanay River are close to the border with Ecuador, flows 529 km down to its confluence with the Amazon River, where its width reaches a maximum of 545 m in rainy season.
Characterized by black water, the Nanay Basin includes 1,750,737 ha encompassing important ecosystems such as floodplain forests, oxbow lakes, riparian habitats, and white-sand forests, and harbors a rich biodiversity and high levels of endemism. For example, Correa and Ortega inventoried 86 fish species in four sample sites in the Nanay River Lower Basin.
The Nanay River Basin is home to several indigenous communities whose cultures and livelihoods depend on the river's resources. Iquitos, the most important city in the Peruvian Amazon, is provided with drinkable water for their 450 000 inhabitants after the public water system treats water coming from the Nanay River.
Ecosystem Contributions
The Nanay River provides a wide range of ecosystem services that are vital for both ecological health and human well-being. Protecting and managing these ecosystems is crucial for maintaining the health and resilience of both natural and human communities. Some of the key ecosystem services of the Nanay River include:
Biodiversity Support. The diverse ecosystems in this riverscape sustain wildlife and contribute to the overall biodiversity of the region.
Water Supply. The Nanay River provides water for both terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems, agricultural irrigation, domestic use (see drinkable water above), and industrial purposes, supporting human livelihoods and economic activities.
Fisheries. The Nanay River sustains important fisheries, providing food and income for local communities. Fish species such as piranhas, catfish, and various freshwater species are harvested from the river, supporting livelihoods and food security.
Flood Regulation. The floodplains and wetlands associated with the Nanay River play a crucial role in regulating water flow and mitigating flood risks during the rainy season, protecting communities and infrastructure from inundation.
Carbon Sequestration. The forests and wetlands adjacent to the Nanay River act as carbon sinks, sequestering carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and helping mitigate climate change.
Recreation and Tourism. The scenic beauty and biodiversity of the Nanay River attracts national and international tourists and nature enthusiasts, supporting eco-tourism and recreational activities such as birdwatching, kayaking, and wildlife viewing. The touristic activity in the Nanay River is well known for its dynamism and high offer.
Cultural and Spiritual Values. The Nanay River holds cultural significance for indigenous communities living along its banks, serving as a source of spiritual connection and traditional knowledge.
Threats
The Nanay River in the Loreto Region of Peru faces several significant threats, which collectively jeopardize the health of the river ecosystem and the well-being of local communities. The most urgent human-caused threats to the Nanay River include:
Illegal Mining. Illegal mining activities, particularly gold mining, contribute to sedimentation, mercury contamination, and habitat destruction in the Nanay River and its tributaries. These activities degrade water quality, disrupt aquatic ecosystems, and threaten the health of downstream communities.
Since 2000, there have been reports of the presence of artisanal dredgers, so the Regional Government of Loreto took action and promulgated Regional Ordinance No. 006-2003-CR/RL, through which the Nanay River is declared an area that excludes mining extraction activities and those that alter the vegetation cover. However, search for gold is known to have begun in the 1980’s.
According to Derecho, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (DAR, 2020), this illicit activity continues to be very present in the Nanay basin and its tributaries (Pintuyacu and Chambira rivers). The illegal mining causes serious short and long-term impacts to the ecosystem, since removing enormous amounts of sediment from rivers generates pollution, alteration of river channels, biological impacts, destruction of aquatic habitats, alteration of flood-prone ecosystems and destruction of the riparian vegetation (Brack Egg et al., 2011).
Also, when dragging, this process to obtain gold uses mercury, which contaminates the water, that fish important for consumption live. Mercury can reach people through consumption of fish, and threat human health.
Furthermore, The National Service of Protected Areas (SERNANP) and the Regional Government of Loreto have reported the presence of artisanal dredgers within protected areas, Alpahuayo Mishana National Reserve and Alto Nanay Pintuyacu Chambira Regional Conservation Area, as well as in their buffer zones.
Intense Ornamental Fish Aquarism. Due to the high fish biodiversity in the Nanay River Basin, individuals and businesses capture and export ornamental fish species for the global aquarium trade. The ornamental fish captured from the Nanay River basin are primarily destined for export markets, including countries in North America, Europe, and Asia. These fish are sought after by aquarium hobbyists and pet stores for their aesthetic appeal and rarity.
Pollution. The Lower Basin of the Nanay River is known for intense economic activities, like buying and selling regional products in the local market, and the ample tourism offer. Additional to these two economic activities, most of the city's Juan District from the resident registry sewage flows into the Nanay River.
Action from several fronts
In the Loreto Region, civil society is promoting regional coordination to defend rivers, water and territories.
The Regional Meeting of Defenders of Rivers, water and territories [Encuentro Regional de Defensoras y Defensores de los ríos, agua y territories] was held on February 17 and 18, 2024, in Iquitos. The objective of this meeting was to articulate the mobilizations of recent months led by the Iquitos Water Defense Committee [Comite de Defensa del Agua de Iquitos] for the protection of the Nanay River - and the defenders of the Pintuyacu and Chambira basins -, with the legal demands, and the general fight for the protection of the Marañón River led by the Kukama women. These actions respond to the alarming increase in illegal mining and other illicit activities in the region, as well as pollution from oil spills (FSP, 2024).
Efforts to address the challenges associated with ornamental fish aquarism in the Nanay River basin require a multi-faceted approach involving collaboration between government agencies, local communities, conservation organizations, and the aquarium industry.
The National Water Authority [Autoridad Nacional del Agua – ANA], through its decentralized headquarters, the Local Water Administration [Autoridad Local del Agua - ALA] in Iquitos, in coordination with several institutions, created the "Riverside Challenge" [Reto Ribera] program in the year 2018, with the aim of promoting the care, protection and conservation of water resources, as well as promoting the new water culture. It is estimated that the 'Riverside Challenge' program in which nearly 300 people participated collecting waste in the Bellavista port area, 3.5 tons of collected waste was finally disposed (ANA, 2018).
Call to action!
As we can see from the above first lines, action is being taken by local communities, municipalities, national government, research institutions and more organizations to stop the main threats to the Nanay River. One of our allies, International Rivers, is actively participating in meetings for the defense of the Nanay River. Join us in protecting the Nanay River! Together, we can stop illegal mining, reduce intense aquarium trade, and combat pollution. Act now to preserve this vital ecosystem for future generations: Support sustainable practices and advocate for stronger regulations to safeguard the Nanay River's biodiversity and the well-being of local communities.
References
Autoridad Nacional del Agua (ANA). 2018. https://www.ana.gob.pe/noticia/autoridad-nacional-del-agua-realiza-limpieza-del-rio-nanay. Accessed March 12, 2024.
Brack Egg, Antonio; Alvarez, José; Sotero, Víctor. 2011 Minería aurífera en Madre de Dios y contaminación con Mercurio: Una bomba de tiempo. Ministerio del Ambiente, Lima.
Correa, Ericka y Ortega, Hernán. 2010. Diversidad y variación estacional de peces en la cuenca baja del río Nanay, Perú. Rev.Per.Biol., vol.17, n.1, pp.37-42.
Forum Solidaridad Perú. 2024. https://www.psf.org.pe/institucional/2024/02/en-loreto-impulsan-una-articulacion-regional-para-defender-los-rios-el-agua-y-los-territorios/. Accessed March 12, 2024.
Instituto de Investigaciones de la Amazonía Peruana. 1996. Zonificación Ecológica Económica del Área de Influencia de la Carretera Iquitos-Nauta. CIGAP-IIAP, 26 pp.
Oficina descentralizada de Derecho, Ambiente y Recursos Naturales (DAR) Loreto. 2020. https://dar.org.pe/cinco-razones-para-erradicar-las-dragas-en-el-rio-nanay/. Accessed March 11, 2024.