Análise da cobertura florestal em zonas de proteção temporária de quelônios (ZPTQs) no estado do Amazonas

Abstract

The consumption of Amazonian chelonian meat is a regional practice among riverside and inland community dwellers, a tradition inherited from ancestral peoples who inhabited floodplain areas. Chelonian populations are overexploited due to the unrestrained consumption of eggs and adults. Conservation projects are essential for maintaining and increasing native wildlife populations. Partnerships between public and private institutions are a vital component that should be encouraged by the government and companies to implement the management and conservation of Amazonian turtles. These initiatives have resulted in increased habitat protection, population recovery, and income generation for local communities and institutions through sustainable management. Through environmental education, hunting pressure on adults and egg consumption have been reduced via partnerships aimed at environmental protection. Another significant factor in the region is increasing deforestation and the loss of habitat quality due to agribusiness, infrastructure projects, and extractive activities. The impacts of such anthropogenic activities remain largely unquantified due to a lack of specific studies. Research is crucial to determine how local environmental changes reflect on chelonian populations. The interaction between fauna and forest extends beyond feeding, nesting, and shelter, as reproduction is only one phase of the annual life cycle of turtles that depend on the forest resources of várzeas (floodplains) and igapós (flooded forests). Areas under community management have demonstrated regeneration and restocking capacity, and local-scale data are vital for developing effective management plans for riparian habitats, as well as mitigation or compensation measures for environmental impacts. The results showed distinct behaviors across the study areas, both contributing to the conservation of Amazonian chelonian fauna. Despite differences in forest cover, a weak positive correlation was found between forest presence and the nest production of Podocnemis unifilis. Biometric data indicated patterns consistent with forest cover, and average egg weight suggested a discernible trend. It is concluded that the PDP results achieve effective strategies within the studied sites.