An arid, dry landscape surrounded by volcanoes is the source of the world's largest river, the Amazon. The source, located in the Andes Mountains in Peru at an altitude of 5,180 metres, is suffering from global warming and mining. In order to protect this region, the Amazon state office of the NGO Sustainable Amazon Foundation is negotiating a project with the Peruvian government to create an environmental reserve in the area around the source. The idea is to create a plan to adapt to climate change so that residents can cope with water shortages, and to combat illegal gold mining in the region. With the formation of a conservation unit, attention will increase and consequently there will be enforcement to protect the area. The main example of climate change is the melting of the peak of Mount Mismi, in the area of the spring, which used to be covered in ice all year round and now has few areas of snow. This problem ends up affecting the entire region through which the Amazon River flows. Even with the cold weather, residents are feeling the effects, and according to them, the dry season is making the animals weaker due to the lack of sufficient pasture for food. The water from the rains that still occur is stored in a lake, which is part of a historic reservoir built more than 500 years ago.

Fonte: Agência Amazônia