The Central Amazon Conservation Complex

The Central Amazon Conservation Complex

1. Site Description

   • Largest protected area in the Amazon Basin
     • Over 6 million hectares of land
   • One of the planet's richest regions in terms of biodviersity
   • Protects key threatened species
     • Giant arapaima fish
     • Amazonian manatee
     • Two species of river dolphin

2. Location

   • Covers the Rio Jau watershed
     • 340km west of the confluence between the Jau and Negro rivers
   • Jau National Park in the Amazonas state of Brazil
     • Jau National Park is 200km north-west of Manaus

3. Jau National Park

4. Mamiraua Reserve

5. Amana

6. Threats and problems

   • Deforestation
     • Around 13% of the original rainforest has already been lost
       • Due to economic pressure and inadequate government policies
   • Only 3.5% of the total area (3.5million km squared) is officially designated as protected areas
     • All protected areas have people living in them
       • In Jau there are around 250 families who fish in the Unini river intensively
   • Development along rivers and roads is a major threat to native habitats and to species
     • Further degradation by logging timber, farming, hunting and mining