Unprecedented Social-Ecological Impacts of the 2023 Extreme Drought in the Central Amazon

Ayan Santos Fleischmann, Rafael Rabelo, Daniel Tregidgo, Tabatha Benitz, Fernanda Viana, Diogo de Lima Franco, Alexandre Hercos, Louise Maranhão, Thiago Bicudo, Priscila Camelo, Adrya Costa, Josué da Silva Costa, Jessica Lopes, Juliana Oler, João Paulo Pedro, Heloisa Pereira, Paula Silva, Kelly Torralvo, Rodrigo Xavier, André Zumak, Lady Custodio, Ana Cláudia Torres, Brenda Meireles, Maria Cecília Gomes, Maiby Glorize, Yana Coelho, Daiana Costa, Fernanda Franca, Débora Hymans, Karine Lopes, Bruna Mendel, Diego Mendes, Raize Mendes, Renan Gomes, Fernanda Paim, Adevaldo Pinto, Anais Prestes, Carolina Sarmento, Ana Carolina Silva, Fernanda Silva, Miriam Marmontel, João Valsecchi

While the 2023 record-breaking drought led to widespread social-ecological impacts across Amazonia, local impacts of such extreme events are rarely described in detail. Here we leverage a large interdisciplinary data collection related to social and ecological impacts in the Central Amazon. Compound hazards (reduced river water levels, lack of rainfall, high water/air temperatures, river erosion and fire smoke) led to major impacts, including an unprecedented mortality of 209 river dolphins and blooms of the potentially ichthyotoxic Euglena sanguinea phytoplankton. Fish kills in lakes and changes in caiman relative abundance along floodplain channels were observed, as well as lower-than-usual production of flowers and fruits in floodplain trees. Impaired river transportation was the main socio-economic impact, affecting important value chains such as the arapaima fishery and manioc flour production, and also access to healthcare, drinking water and urban markets. Our results also show the contrasting impacts between rural and urban populations, with the latter presenting a higher resilience throughout the event. Continuous records of impacts like those presented here are fundamental to guide future disaster management policies in Amazonia. This is particularly important to help vulnerable remote people and ecosystems during extreme events, which are likely to increase in the near future.