Kimberly Dudeck

Documentary Reflection
Climate Change and the Amazon Basin
Annual flooding of the Amazon constantly threatens the lives of the residential
communities living along the riverbanks. These tropical seasons used to arrive irregularly, and
were welcomed at one point in time in communities such as Igarap do Costa. The rainy season
in the Amazon has brutally changed over the past few years due to the development of land and
global warming. The storms now arrive suddenly and without warning, and continue to risk the
lives of the people of Igarap.
In 2009, Igarap experienced the most violent flooding in history. The record breaking
water levels had reached eight meters in height and destroyed many of the houses in the
community. Since then, scientists and researchers have sought out answers for why these storms
have become so much more destructive and life-threatening in recent years. The Center of
Research for the Atmosphere and Biosphere in the Amazon have made the assumption that there
is no longer a boundary between the wet season and dry season because of the effects of La Nia,
which has had a direct correlation with the precipitation in the region. La Nia is said to decrease
the temperatures in the area, while increasing the amount of rain. The effects of this natural
phenomenon used to be seen every five to eight years, but has now become an annual
occurrence.
The continuous increase in water levels in Igarap, as well as a decrease in fish
populations, can be directly linked to the rapid deforestation of the region. The flooding strongly
damages the trees and vegetation, which normally would help to decrease erosion and

sedimentation, in addition to providing habitats for fish. Fishing is a very common way of life
among the majority of Igaraps population, so the direct correlation between the economic and
climatic conditions is significantly threatening their livelihood. Reforestation in this area has
recently become an ongoing project in order to try and prevent the loss of fish populations, as
well as hopefully reduce the impact of waves during the rainy season. Vegetation is known to
play a key role in the balance of this regions ecosystem, and the preventative measures taking
place should help to ward off any more devastation.
The studies done in this specific area of Brazil provide supporting facts about the increase
of climate change over recent years. We are unable to feel or observe these small changes while
living in the US, but the riverbank community of Igarap is faced with these issues on a daily
basis. I strongly agree with the fact that the residents deserve the right to use and protect their
natural environment in any way they see fit, seeing as though they are the ones that have to
constantly make changes in their lives in order to survive. According to the documentary, a set of
Brazilian laws from 2006 recognize that the people who live in the Amazon have the authority to
establish laws in order to preserve any natural resource, and impose these laws onto the
neighboring communities. Although it was the intended decision of the community to settle
along the riverbanks, with knowledge of the rising waters, the problem has only gotten worse
due to development and climate change. It is only fair to grant the population of Igarap these
authoritative rights.
I enjoyed watching the backstory that was presented in this documentary, especially the
focus on medicinal herbs. This community is quite a distance from the nearest hospital which
makes getting modern medicine very difficult. The main woman in the documentary seemed to
be somewhat of a local doctor and cultivated large amounts of medicinal herbs at her home. A lot

of pressure is put on her to keep her house in good condition since the rising floodwaters
constantly threaten her crop. Without her medicinal knowledge of the plants the community
would be in even more danger. The reforestation programs in the area not only help to prevent
destruction to the entire population of Igarap, but to her profession, as well.