Protecting Brazilian Amazon Indigenous territories reduces atmospheric particulates and avoids associated health impacts and costs

Abstract

Indigenous territories are considered important for conservation, but little is known about their role in maintaining human health. Here we quantified the potential human health and economic benefits of protecting these territories in the Brazilian Amazon, by using cardiovascular and respiratory diseases cases, pollutant and forest cover data. Between 2010 and 2019, 1.68 tons of Particulate Matter of small size (PM2.5) were released every year, with negative effects for human health. A lower number of infections was also found in municipalities with more forested areas, and with a low level of fragmentation, which probably is related to the potential capacity of the Amazon Forest to absorb PM2.5 (26,376.66 tons year−1, 27% of this absorption capacity in Indigenous territories). Our estimates indicate that by protecting Amazon Indigenous territories, over 15 million of respiratory and cardiovascular cases could be avoided every year, with ~$2 billion USD being saved only in health costs.

Sustaining indigenous Maasai Alalili silvo-pastoral conservation systems for improved community livelihood and biodiversity conservation in East African rangelands

“…Indigenous local knowledge (ILK) and research around it has emerged as an important area of sustainability science, informing and supporting pressing challenges of our modern times. It provides information and data that can increase resilience, promote sustainable restoration and rewilding for transforming communities in landscapes towards more resilient, sustainable, and equitable futures [ 8 , 75 , 76 ]. Many rangeland areas harbor communities with different socio-cultural practices most of which are not documented [ 16 ].…”

Temporal Characteristics and Sources of PM2.5 in Porto Velho of Amazon Region in Brazil from 2020 to 2022

“…In the Amazon rainforest, PM 2.5 from forest fires can affect hundreds of kilometers of horizontal distances [11]. Moreover, plumes of wildfire smoke can rise as high as 2500 m and, depending on weather conditions, influence PM 2.5 enhancement in downwind areas [47].…”

“…Wildfires have the potential to adversely affect the health of residents both in the immediate vicinity of the fire outbreak and in downwind regions through long-range transport mechanisms [9][10][11]. Notably, PM 2.5 emissions from wildfires are known to be more harmful than those originating from fossil fuels, and the increase in wildfires correlates with a rise in atmospheric PM 2.5 concentrations [11][12][13]. Attention to PM 2.5 concentrations is crucial as they influence respiratory ailments, cardiovascular diseases, and cognitive function decline in individuals [14][15][16].…”