Indigenous forest and fish management in the Uaupes basin of Brazil

The Uanano Indians of the Uapes River Basin in the northwest portion of the Brazilian Amazon rainforest practice an important strategy of river management. By reserving the natural vegetation of riparian forest for fisheries maintenance rather than deforesting the margin for agriculture as is common elsewhere. This strategy demonstrates an unusual awareness of the interdependence of terrestrial and aquatic systems only recently documented by Western scientist and not yet fully recognized by economic developers. It is presented here as an example of rational ecosystem management with long-term economic benefits. (author)