Download Matavén River Report card

Matavén River
Report card
2016
R
ÉN
AV
E
RIV
T
MA
R
ATE
T
W
H
N HEAL
MA
P
CU E
Terres
connec trial
tivity
Stable a
re
forest a
N
lan atur
d c al
ov
er
EC
S
& L OSYSTE M S
A N D SC APE
Risk
s
wa to
qua ter
lity
W
a
& ter
de s
m up
an pl
d y
tem
sys es
Ecoervic
s
r
ve s
Ri phin
l
do
A
Water
ex
quality ind
ER
SI
B
TY
r
Rive ins
h
dolp
A
VÉN RI V
TA
T/
EN CE
AN
Biodiversity
Knowledge
Gap Index
SI
The Matavén River Basin received an overall A grade (87%),
the highest of all the sub-basins within the Colombian
portion of Orinoco River Basin. Of the eight indicators
assessed, all were excellent (>80%) except for human
nutrition (53%) which despite its moderate score was
still the best score for this indicator in the Orinoco River
Basin. Perfect scores were achieved for risks to water
quality, water supply and demand, natural land cover,
and mining in sensitive ecosystems. Though this basin
received exceptional grades, there are major data gaps
that need to be filled. Currently IDEAM’s National Network
Monitoring has not water quality monitoring sites for the
river. Additionally, no biodiversity data was available for this
version of the report card, making this is a priority area of
research for future report cards.
MA N
GOV AGE
ER M
N
E&
PL E
O TUR
L
BIO DIVER
The Matavén has the best
health in the Orinoco
an
m ion
Hu trit
nu
The Matavén River, located in Vichada Department, is
a small tributary of the Orinoco that originates in the
low plain forests of the transitional Amazon biome and
stretches 630 km in length. It is the least transformed
of all sub-basins with only 1,173 ha (1%) of the basin
impacted by human activities. The Matavén basin is
dominated by tropical rainforests, but also includes
other ecosystem types such as flooded forests and
flooded savannas. The main threat to the basin is
growing exploitation of natural resources through
activities such as hunting and overfishing.
M
in
ec sen ing
os sit in
ys ive
te
m
s
Characteristics of the
Matavén River Basin
What do the scores mean?
a
b
80–100%
60–80%
c
d
40–60%
20–40%
f
0–20%
no data
W
id
str
an
W
F
ff an
The expansive Matavén Jungle Indigenous Reserve
covers 1,051,320 ha and is mostly inhabited by
indigenous people from the Cubeo, Curripaco, Piapoco,
Piaroa, Puinave, and Sikuani ethnic groups. The
livelihoods of the indigenous peoples of this reserve are
subsistence hunting and fishing as well as gathering
plants for medicine. Since they rely on the jungle for these
resources, they are working hard to protect it.
d
-W
© S
ta
Matavén communities
establish Jungle Reserve to
safeguard their future
In 2003, these groups came together to form the Matavén
Jungle Indigenous Reserve, where they joined together
their individual reserves to safeguard their culture and
traditions, and to protect the “Heart of Health” of the
Matavén Jungle. In addition to joining their reserves, they
formed a legal organization (ACATISEMA), to represent
them as they work with external organizations to protect
the biodiversity of this region.
a
A need to know more
Rom
ero
M
en
do
© Mauricio
The extensive biological diversity found in the basin demands
significant investments in biodiversity assessments
and monitoring to supplement important yet fragmented
biodiversity records. Additionally, information is needed on the
state of river-related cultural values, and water quality data in
order to include these indicators in subsequent report cards.
VALUES
B
FUTURE INDICATORS
IODIVERSITY
M M AL
MA
CHNESS
RI
WATER
PEOPLE &
CUL TURE
FL O R A
CHNESS
RI
WATER
L I TY INDE
A
U
X
An indigenous village in the Matavén.
Q
z
The Matavén sub-basin supports
many species like jaguars.
D I G EN O U
IN AREAS S
RI
FISH
CHNESS
R I V ER
LPHINS
DO