The Amazon region is currently facing an unprecedented drought, pushing river levels to historic lows. The Rio Negro, a major tributary of the Amazon River, reached its lowest point in over 120 years at the port of Manaus, Brazil’s largest city in the rainforest.
This extreme drop in water levels is severely impacting transportation, as rivers are essential for moving goods and supplies throughout the region. Grain shipments, for example, have been halted due to the inability of boats to navigate the shallow waters, causing disruptions in food and essential supplies for isolated communities.
The drought, which has persisted since last year, is exacerbated by both local and global factors. The warming of the North Atlantic has contributed to reduced rainfall in the Amazon, while ongoing deforestation has further diminished the region’s ability to retain moisture.
Deforestation interferes with the process of evapotranspiration, where trees release water into the atmosphere, reducing overall precipitation. Combined with the global warming trend, these factors have created a perfect storm for this drought to reach unprecedented levels.
The Amazon has had its worst forest fires in two decades. More than 62,000 square kilometres have been burned this year already – an area bigger than countries like Sri Lanka or Costa Rica.
Raimundinha Rodrigues Da Sousa, who runs the voluntary fire service for the Caititu indigenous community in the Brazilian Amazon told the BBC that their land is supposed to be protected under the Brazilian constitution.
“Today it is killing the plants, in a while it will be us, because we inhale so much,” she says.
“It is a very aggressive fire that kills everything that comes its way.”
The world relies on the Amazon to absorb a lot of its carbon. These fires mean it is now emitting record amounts itself.
Most fires here are illegally started by humans, according to scientists, the Federal Police, and the government: loggers and miners looking to exploit land in the Amazon, or farmers turning it into pasture.
It is much rarer for fires to occur naturally in the humid, tropical rainforest.
Smoke from the fires is blanketing large parts of Brazil and neighboring countries, further worsening air quality and contributing to the already critical environmental situation.
These fires, often set deliberately as part of deforestation practices, are contributing to the loss of vast tracts of rainforest, which will have long-term consequences for biodiversity and climate regulation.
The drought is causing severe hardship for local communities, particularly Indigenous populations who rely on the rivers for transportation and access to resources.
Many villages have become isolated, with boats unable to navigate the dry riverbeds.
Some residents are forced to walk long distances in harsh conditions to obtain food and medicine. This crisis has created a humanitarian emergency in parts of the Amazon, with over half a million people affected in the Amazonas state alone.
Looking ahead, the region may not fully recover for several years. Experts predict that the lack of rain will likely persist until at least mid-2024, and some projections suggest the Amazon might not regain normal moisture levels until 2026.
As this drought continues to unfold, it is raising concerns about the broader impacts of climate change and deforestation on the world’s largest rainforest and its vital role in regulating the global climate.
