Featured Scientist: David G. McGrath, Ph.D. Associate Scientist
Project: Human ecology and management of the Amazon floodplain
The Amazon varzea, the core area of the Amazon floodplain, is
one of the largest and most biodiverse tropical wetland systems
in the world. Its fertile soils and abundant plant and animal
resources supported some of the densest and most politically
complex societies in the Amazon basin. Varzea resources have
continued to play a central role in the regional economy. In
recent decades the rise of commercial fishing, logging and
extensive cattle ranching have modified varzea habitat and
depleted key resources, leading to conflicts over access to and
use of floodplain lakes, forests and grasslands. WHRC scientists
are working with floodplain communities, grassroots
organizations, key government agencies and other stakeholder
groups, to develop a multi-scale comanagement system for
reconciling conflicts and sustainably managing varzea resources.
The overall objective is to develop the poli