Hydropower plant in Eastern Amazon and its impacts on the local population’s eating habits

Abstract

This study assessed the direct impacts of Cachoeira Caldeirão Hydropower Plant (before and during its construction) on the eating habits (fish and wild meat consumption) of the residents in Porto Grande City, Amapá State, Brazil. The study was conducted in 2015, based on a questionnaire for data collection (Sample size = 53) and on comparative analysis for significance (Wilcoxon test, p < 0.05) and correlation (Pearson’s test) assessment. Results suggested significant changes in families’ eating habits. The Wilcoxon test detected three significant variables (p < 0.05): family income, number of species (fish and wild meat consumption) and rate of wild meat consumption per family. Both the Wilcoxon and the Pearson’s correlation tests confirmed two variables (p < 0.05 and r > 0.7): family income versus wild meat consumption before (p value = 0.045; r = - 0.75) and family income versus fish consumption during (p value = 0.0029; r = - 0.83) hydropower plant construction. It can be inferred that the decrease in family fish consumption may be related to changes in the families' eating habits. Changes in diet may have led families to a growing consumption of industrialized and/or ultra-processed foods, very common in geographically isolated Amazon riverside regions with limited access to electricity. Furthermore, families were forced to adapt to a new reality due to environmental changes in their territories.