Brazilian wetlands: their definition, delineation, and classification for research, sustainable management, and protection

Abstract

Although 20% of Brazilian territory is covered by wetlands, wetland inventories are still incomplete. In 1993,Brazil signed the Ramsar Convention but a coherent national policy for the sustainable management andprotection of wetlands has yet to be established.2. Major gaps in the definition of a specific wetland policy are twofold: (1) the lack of standardized criteria bywhich wetlands are defined and delineated that reflects the specific ecological conditions of the country and (2)the lack of a national classification of wetlands that takes into account specific hydrological conditions andrespective plant communities.3. In recent years, efforts have been made at a regional level to improve public awareness of the ecology ofBrazilian wetlands, their benefits to society, and the major threats endangering them. Studies have shown thatwetlands play a crucial role in the regional hydrological cycle and provide multiple benefits for localpopulations. Furthermore, Brazilian wetlands contribute significantly to South American biodiversity.Therefore, wetland conservation and sustainable management should be given high legislative priority.4. This article provides a synthesis of the current body of knowledge on the distribution, hydrology, and vegetationcover of Brazilian wetlands. Their definition, delineation, and classification at the national level are proposed in orderto establish a scientific basis for discussions on a national wetland policy that mandates the sustainable management ofBrazil’s extremely diverse and complex wetlands. This goal is particularly urgent in the face of the continuing and ramatic deterioration of wetlands resulting from large-scale agro-industrial expansion, and hydroelectric projects aswell as the projected impact of global climate change on hydrological cycles.