Connectivity and policy confluences: a multi-scalar conservation approach for protecting Amazon riverine ecosystems

The world is calling for ambitious conservation targets for the Amazon, the world's largest hydrographic basin, with an aim to protect 80% of the biome by 2025. With less than two years to reach this target, it is time to bridge scientific, management, and policy divides in understanding and safekeeping the Amazon. A collaborative, concerted effort is required for developing policy strategies toward the integration of riverine biocultural diversity and connectivity to conserve the basin. Building on policy analysis and interviews with diverse stakeholders, this paper identifies key elements that can support the creation of an Amazon basin-wide riverine conservation system’s approach, focusing on public policies and institutional arrangements. The proposed system concentrates on coordinated protection of riverine connectivity and ecosystem services across this transboundary basin. It builds on existing policies, institutions, and governance arrangements to instantly include rivers currently under some form of protection, while providing a platform for investigating other rivers for subsequent inclusion. Fostering transdisciplinary dialogues, addressing power imbalances, and promoting capacity building across scales would facilitate meaningful participation of key stakeholders in the system's governance. Building on local strengths, enforcement would happen at the regional and national levels.