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Largest Community-Based Fisheries Conservation Management in Brazilian Amazon Yields Greater Protection Than Other Conservation Methods
New research from the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Amazon Expedition indicates that community-based conservation in the Amazon has a multiplier effect towards safeguarding the surrounding areas’ biodiversity and habitat
Carauari, Amazonas, Brazil - 2022/09/05: Manarian’s beach guardian, João Pedro Freitas da Silva, monitors the turtle nests at the Medio Juruá Extractive Reserve.
Photo Credit: André Dib
Washington, D.C. (September 19, 2025) - In a new study published in Nature Sustainability today, National Geographic Explorer, Rolex Laureate and Brazilian scientist João Campos-Silva and a team of researchers and environmental leaders provide evidence that community-based conservation (CBC) in the Brazilian Amazon effectively protects an area eight times larger than the site originally targeted for protection.
Their findings prove CBC is one of the most cost-effective methods of conservation generating a positive “spillover effect” that expands environmental protection throughout the greater floodplain, extends ecosystem services and enhances the quality of life for nearby communities.
To better understand the immense impact of CBC, Campos-Silva, alongside scientists and co-authors Ana Carla Rodrigues and Hugo Costa, assessed the impact of the largest community-based fisheries conservation arrangement in the Brazilian Amazon. Their research showcases the conservation efforts of 14 local communities along 96 protected lakes surrounding the Juruá River valley, in eastern Brazil traversing the states of Acre and Amazonas.
Reflecting on the study Campos-Silva, Rodrigues and Costa assert:
“The Amazon is constantly in the media because of environmental and political catastrophes, but we want to shine a light on a very positive fact, a situation in which local communities are spearheading conservation, recovering multiple species and showcasing the power of combining traditional knowledge with cutting-edge science.”
The team found that local communities effectively protect areas larger than what had been previously documented. Their research shows:
- On average, each community directly protected 304.5 ha of lakes. However, their surveillance activities effectively protected an area 8x larger than the area under direct protection.
- Given the movements of species such as pirarucu, giant turtles and river dolphins between protected lakes and the larger floodplains, each community functionally protects an average 11,188 ha — an area 36x larger than the directly protected area.
- Local community inclusion in conservation arrangements is the least expensive and most cost-effective mechanism to ensure the protection of natural ecosystems, averaging around (US$0.95 per ha/year). However, there is a heavy burden of labor and local opportunity costs to the community considering the time and effort spent on territorial protection.
Campos-Silva adds, “With COP30 on the horizon, we must ensure that the most effective solutions like CBC are brought to the forefront, and this includes developing mechanisms to financially compensate local communities who bear the burden of the costs of protection.”
Campos-Silva’s efforts to work with local communities to study aquatic wildlife in the Amazon and advocate for their increased protection is part of the National Geographic and Rolex Perpetual Planet Amazon Expedition, a scientific and storytelling exploration spanning the entire Amazon River basin, from the Andes to the Atlantic.
"National Geographic Society is proud to support the groundbreaking research of Explorers like João whose science is revealing the power of community-led co-management strategies for conservation and for the wider protection of the Amazon, an ecosystem that is critical for sustaining all life on Earth.” says Ian Miller, Chief Science and Innovation Officer at National Geographic Society.
To learn more about Perpetual Planet Expeditions, visit: natgeo.org/perpetualplanetexpeditions
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About Perpetual Planet Expeditions
The Perpetual Planet Expeditions program, an expansion of National Geographic Society’s long-standing collaboration with Rolex and its Perpetual Planet Initiative, supports expeditions to explore the planet’s most critical environments. By harnessing world-renowned scientific expertise and cutting-edge technology that reveal new insights about the systems that are vital to life on Earth, these expeditions help scientists, decision-makers, and local communities plan for and find solutions to the impacts of climate and environmental change while illuminating the wonder of our world through impactful storytelling.
About Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative
As the 21st century unfolds, Rolex has moved from championing exploration for the sake of discovery to protecting the planet and reinforced its commitment by launching the Perpetual Planet Initiative in 2019. It supports individuals and organizations using science to understand the world’s environmental challenges and devise solutions that will restore balance to our ecosystems and safeguard the Earth for future generations.
The Rolex Perpetual Planet Initiative for now focuses on three key areas: supporting individuals who contribute to a better world through the Rolex Awards; preserving the oceans, notably through the company’s association with Mission Blue; and understanding climate and environmental change through scientific expeditions as part of its enhanced association with National Geographic, a Rolex partner since 1954.
About The National Geographic Society
The National Geographic Society is a global nonprofit organization that uses the power of science, exploration, education and storytelling to illuminate and protect the wonder of our world. Since 1888, National Geographic has pushed the boundaries of exploration, investing in bold people and transformative ideas, providing more than 15,000 grants for work across all seven continents, reaching 3 million students each year through education offerings, and engaging audiences around the globe through signature experiences, stories and content.
To learn more, visit www.nationalgeographic.org or follow us on Instagram, LinkedIn and Facebook.
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