Effect of geographic isolation and temporal patterns on use of wildmeat and fishery resources in Eastern Amazonia, Brazil

Resumo

The advance of urbanization, the construction of large-scale projects, and the intensification of the extraction of natural resources are modifying the food consumption patterns of human populations in the Amazon. The influences of the population's economic integration and proximity to the market are crucial factors that shape various aspects of their livelihoods. We evaluated the influence of distance to the commercial center, temporal variation, and river flow on the diversity and composition of wild meat and fishes consumed in two RESEXs in Eastern Amazonia. The data came from the National Biodiversity Monitoring Program, coordinated by the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation, which has been in progress since 2014. We found a significant presence of industrialized food in the diet of populations close to the urban center and a presence of fish and wild meat in the meals from populations that live farther away. The consumption of fish and hunting animals is decreasing over the years without an increase in the consumption of industrialized food, which may represent a case of food insecurity for these populations. The consumption of fishes presented seasonal variations, guided by the river flow. Fishing and hunting play a significant role in the sustenance of these populations, but their decline over time may exhibit a worrisome pattern.