Application of the ecohydrological concept for sustainable development of tropical floodplains: the case of the upper Paraná River basin

The degradation of natural resources in the upper Paraná River's floodplain remnant has been caused by local use of land, and by alterations in the flood regime promoted by more than 100 large reservoirs located upstream from the plain. This destruction appeared irreversible 15 years ago, although the area has been partly rehabilitated through the construction of three large conservation units that encompass the entire remnant. These units, which imposed different levels of restrictions on soil use, have resulted in clear benefits to terrestrial components. However, aquatic ecosystem function is still harmed by artificial regulation of discharge. This regulation reduces biological diversity and the resources traditionally exploited by indigenous people. In this paper, we examined the conditions of the upper Paraná River basin in detail, and we discussed the application of the ecohydrology concept to promote sustainable development in this region.