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The Madeira River: Life Before the Dams
The Madeira Hydroelectric Complex is an infrastructure project of four dams intended to generate over 10,000 MW of energy, 4,000 km of waterway and 2,500 km of transmission lines. The Madeira River is a major tributary of the Amazon River, which is the main element of the tri-national Madeira basin (Brazil, Bolivia and Peru). This is the biggest infrastructure project planned by the Initiative for Regional Integration of Infrastructure in South America (IIRSA).
Santo Antonio and Jirau are the first dams to be constructed, and are both located in Brazil, on the Madeira River. The construction of the Santo Antonio dam started in September, 2008. According to the Brazilian social movement of people impacted by dams, called MAB (Movimento dos Atingidos por Barragens), 10,000 people will be displaced. The company in charge of its construction, Santo Antonio Energia S.A. (SAESA), estimates that 3,000 people will have to be relocated. Jirau dam has been under construction since 2009 and the company leading this project is ENERSUS (Energia Sustentável do Brasil).
The two other dams are Riberao, on the Mamore River (Bolivia-Brazil border), and Chachuela Esperanza, on the Beni River (Bolivia). For the latter, a feasibility study commissioned by the Bolivian government is underway.
Although the extent of the dam’s impact is not clear, the dams will affect migratory fish and other species dependent on the river’s ecological flow. Also, the opening up of road infrastructure for access to the dams is predicted to have some impact on the surrounding forests.
WWF’s position
WWF does not oppose the construction of dams in principle, as dams provide important services to society.
Nevertheless, WWF believes that energy efficiency and energy conservation should be at the forefront of every nation's energy policy, which should also include comprehensive analysis of other renewable energy alternatives to hydropower and to fossil fuels and strategies to avoid or minimize negative social, cultural and environmental impacts of dams, in particular, in the Amazon.
In addition, Environmental Impact Assessments (EIA) should be of a high standard and conducted over an adequate area. Although not required by the Brazilian legal framework or by BNDES, the developers have commissioned a Strategic Environmental Assessment (SEA) for the Madeira complex covering the whole Madeira basin. Unfortunately, this study was never used to promote adequate civil society participation and to reach social agreements with affected local communities.
Taking action
By producing this documentary film, WWF is drawing attention to the potential social and environmental impacts related to the construction of the dams, and to inform potential project financers about these impacts. The film will also be used as a tool for capacity-building and knowledge-sharing with the communities directly, indirectly and potentially affected by the dams.
More specifically, WWF is advocating for an independent monitoring system supported by the financers to make sure that the 85 licensing conditions will be met by the companies ahead of these projects.
"The Madeira River: Life Before the Dams" tells the story of the people of Brazil and Bolivia affected by the construction of the Santo Antonio and Jirau dams, part of the Madeira Hydroelectric Complex. The film was shot both in the dry and rainy season, in Amazon "riverine" communities in Brazil and Bolivia. It documents expectations, opinions, and fears of people, whose livelihood depends on the river, including indigenous communities. (approx. 27 minutes)
