Abstract

DOUROJEANNI, Marc J. Insect conservation in the amazon. Ecol. apl. [online]. 2019, vol.18, n.2, pp.189-202. ISSN 1726-2216.  http://dx.doi.org/10.21704/rea.v18i2.1337.

During the past three decades the portion of the Amazon biome included in protected areas and indigenous territories has more than doubled. Today it covers 51% of the Amazon. New protected areas are biologically more representative than in the past thanks to improved scientific tools such as rapid biological assessments and prioritization based on systematization of records. Insects were often considered in these studies. However, not all protected areas have equal value for conservation. Also, most invertebrate species in protected areas as in the Amazon are still unknown. The situation in the still forested non-protected Amazon is worsening. Agriculture and mining are rapidly growing as well as selective logging, especially impacting in endemic insect species in isolated valleys in the Andes-Amazon portion and in general, in Amazon’s periphery. Additionally, the consequences of border effects are worsening as forest fragments multiply. Climate change will have an enormous impact. Water pollution is a growing but little measured impact in aquatic invertebrates. Taxonomy, especially in the Amazon countries, continues not being attractive to young entomologist nor to scientific institutions. The whole issue of systematics is worsening despite new trends such as DNA bar codes. Biopiracy susceptibilities are increasing obstacles for research. The overall balance for insect conservation is still more positive than negative as it can be assumed that the entomofauna is as protected as any other animal or plant. A few alternatives to improve insect conservation in the region are discussed.

Keywords : insects; Amazon; status; conservation issues; protected areas.

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