Perceptions of climate and climate change by Amazonian communities. (July 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Funatsu, Beatriz M.; Dubreuil, Vincent; Racapé, Amandine; Debortoli, Nathan S.; Nasuti, Stéphanie; Le Tourneau, François-Michel
• Is Part Of: Global environmental change. Volume 57(2019)
• Publication Date: 2019-07
• Subjects: Climate change -- Perceptions -- Amazon -- Remote sensing; Environmental policy -- Periodicals; Human ecology -- Periodicals; Nature -- Effect of human beings on -- Periodicals; Environment -- Periodicals; Environnement -- Politique gouvernementale -- Périodiques; Écologie humaine -- Périodiques; Homme -- Influence sur la nature -- Périodiques; Environmental policy; Human ecology; Nature -- Effect of human beings on; Periodicals; Electronic journals; 333.7
• DOI: 10.1016/j.gloenvcha.2019.05.007
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0959-3780

Abstract

Highlights: ∼72% of sampled population in 13 Amazonian sites reports perceptions of climate change. Perceptions increase with age, but are not affected by gender or environmental exposure. Measured rainfall trends and perceptions are often dissonant. Perceptions and observations are consistent in the south in two observation steps. Perceptions of "changes in climate" increased with time at all sites. Abstract: The Amazon region has been undergoing profound transformations since the late '70s through forest degradation, land use changes and effects of global climate change. The perception of such changes by local communities is important for risk analysis and for subsequent societal decision making. In this study, we compare and contrast observations and perceptions of climate change by selected Amazonian communities particularly vulnerable to alterations in precipitation regimes. Two main points were analysed: (i) the notion of changes in the annual climate cycle and (ii) the notion of changes in rainfall patterns. About 72% of the sampled population reports perceptions of climate changes, and there is a robust signal of increased perception with age. Other possible predictive parameters such as gender, fishing frequency and changes in/planning of economic activities do not appear overall as contributing to perceptions. The communities' perceptions of the changes in 2013–2014 were then compared to earlier results (2007–2008), providing an unprecedented cohort study of the same sites. Results show that climate change perceptions and measured rainfall variations differ across the basin. It was only in the southern part of the Amazon that both measured and perceived changes in rainfall patterns were consistent with decreased precipitation. However, the perception of a changing climate became more widespread and frequently mentioned, signalling an increase in awareness of climate risk.