Flying Rivers and Protected Territories

The policy brief highlights the role of the flying rivers—moisture flows generated by evapotranspiration from the Amazon rainforest—in regulating rainfall across South America. Deforestation, climate change, and fires are weakening this system, increasing the frequency of droughts and extreme events. Forest degradation could undermine water, energy, and food security in several countries in the region. The document recommends curbing deforestation, restoring degraded areas, and strengthening regional cooperation to protect this essential climate service.