Downstream Fishers and the Impacts Generated by the Belo Monte Hydroelectric Dam.

摘要

In order to reduce the dependence on fossil fuels, and reduce greenhouse emissions countries have promoted a transition toward renewable energy sources such as hydropower. In the case of Brazil, 65.2% of the energy of the country comes from hydropower. The Belo Monte Hydroelectric Dam, located in the Xingu River of the Brazilian Amazon, is the third largest dam in the world, it will generate 11 GW of electricity and its construction has caused many social, economic and environmental impacts. In this research, I study how Vila Nova, a riverside community downstream from the Belo Monte dam in the Xingu river that used to rely on fish as the main source for its livelihood has been impacted by the dam. Fishing is an activity usually carried by males, but in Vila Nova it is done both by men and women. The aim of this research, is to examine through the perception of local men and women fishers, the impacts that the Belo Monte dam has caused to the fishery and fishers' livelihoods. To my knowledge, no other study has looked at the impact to people and fisheries caused by a large-scale dam in the Amazon Basin from the perspective of local fishers. I conducted in-depth interviews, participatory observations, fishing trips and resource mapping with fishers of Vila Nova. Data analysis followed an interactive and continuous process. My findings suggest that men and women use the fisheries resources differently and perceive different impacts due to their roles in the community.