Guiana Shield: Riches, Threats, Indigenous Protection

Fatima Hussain^*
*Correspondence: Fatima Hussain, Department of Medicinal Botany, Desert Rose University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Email:

Introduction

This study comprehensively details the long-term weathering processes and critical zone development within the Guiana Shield, specifically focusing on the Siphaliwini river catchment in Suriname. Utilizing geochemical mass balance, the research provides crucial insights into how the ancient bedrock of the shield interacts with atmospheric and hydrological cycles over vast geological timescales, thereby influencing nutrient cycling and soil formation in tropical environments [1].

Further investigations delve into the late Paleozoic to Mesozoic magmatism across the broader Guyana Shield, highlighting its crucial role in understanding the supercontinent Pangea's assembly and subsequent breakup. Through rigorous geochronological and geochemical analyses, this study sheds significant light on the tectonic evolution of the region during a critical period of global continental reorganization [2].

A separate, comprehensive study explores the diversity and distribution patterns of small mammals, including Didelphimorphia and Rodentia, within a pristine area of the Guiana Shield located in Brazil. The valuable findings contribute significantly to the understanding of mammalian biodiversity in one of Earth's most biodiverse regions, providing essential baseline data crucial for ongoing conservation efforts within these threatened ecosystems [3].

New research clearly demonstrates the effectiveness of established protected areas and indigenous lands in curbing deforestation across the expansive Guiana Shield. This pivotal study highlights the critical role of these designated territories in maintaining vital forest cover and biodiversity, offering compelling evidence for their continued protection and robust support as essential strategies for broader environmental conservation in the region [4].

A multi-scale analysis provides deep insights into the hydro-geomorphic dynamics of tropical rivers across the Guiana Shield, with a specific and detailed focus on the Essequibo River in Guyana. This research meticulously unravels the complex interactions between hydrological regimes and geomorphological processes, thereby offering profound understanding into how these pristine river systems shape the landscape and influence distinct ecological patterns [5].

A systematic review thoroughly examines the projected impacts of climate change on the hydrology and crucial water resources across the Guiana Shield. The comprehensive analysis synthesizes a wealth of existing research, highlighting significant vulnerabilities in water availability and riverine ecosystems, and underscoring the urgent need for robust adaptive management strategies to mitigate future environmental and socio-economic challenges within this critical region [6].

An in-depth review and synthesis investigate the extensive and detrimental impacts of mining activities on water quality and aquatic biodiversity throughout the Guiana Shield. This work consolidates a broad range of findings on various pollutants and their ecological consequences, providing a comprehensive overview of how extractive industries severely threaten the region's unique freshwater ecosystems and emphasizing the pressing need for stricter environmental regulations and more effective rehabilitation efforts [7].

This study meticulously examines tree mortality patterns observed in a Guiana Shield forest, effectively distinguishing the intricate roles of drought, selective logging practices, and species-specific traits. Through detailed analysis, the research successfully disentangles the complex drivers of forest dynamics, providing critical information for understanding the overall resilience and inherent vulnerability of these ancient ecosystems to escalating anthropogenic pressures and climate variability [8].

Novel research specifically focuses on employing Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite data for effective mapping and monitoring of widespread deforestation and ongoing forest degradation across the Guiana Shield. The study powerfully showcases the immense utility of advanced remote sensing technologies in providing accurate and timely information for vital conservation efforts, significantly helping to track critical environmental changes and inform crucial policy decisions in this incredibly vital forest region [9].

Finally, an insightful study explores the profound traditional ecological knowledge held by indigenous communities in the Guiana Shield, particularly concerning medicinal plants and its deep significance for conservation. This compelling research highlights how ancestral knowledge systems contribute substantially to understanding plant biodiversity and fostering sustainable resource management, emphasizing the critical importance of integrating indigenous perspectives into broader, more effective conservation strategies for the region [10].

Description

The Guiana Shield represents an ancient geological formation, essential for understanding Earth's deep history and ongoing environmental processes. Detailed studies, like one focusing on the Siphaliwini river catchment in Suriname, analyze long-term weathering processes and critical zone development [1]. This research uses geochemical mass balance to reveal how the shield's ancient bedrock interacts with atmospheric and hydrological cycles over geological timescales, significantly influencing nutrient cycling and soil formation in tropical environments [1]. Furthermore, the broader Guyana Shield has been a focal point for investigations into late Paleozoic to Mesozoic magmatism, which is crucial for comprehending the assembly and subsequent breakup of the supercontinent Pangea. Geochronological and geochemical analyses in this area have extensively illuminated the tectonic evolution of the region during a critical period of global continental reorganization [2]. These foundational geological studies provide the essential backdrop for understanding the region's unique ecological characteristics and vulnerabilities.

The Shield boasts extraordinary biodiversity, with research continually revealing its ecological richness. For instance, a comprehensive study conducted in a pristine area of the Guiana Shield in Brazil explored the diversity and distribution patterns of small mammals, specifically Didelphimorphia and Rodentia [3]. The findings contribute vital baseline data to our understanding of mammalian biodiversity in one of Earth's most biodiverse regions, which is crucial for targeted conservation efforts in these ecosystems [3]. Beyond terrestrial fauna, the hydro-geomorphic dynamics of tropical rivers, such as the Essequibo River in Guyana, significantly shape the landscape and influence ecological patterns. Multi-scale analyses unravel the complex interactions between hydrological regimes and geomorphological processes in these pristine river systems [5]. Understanding these intricate ecological relationships is paramount for effective environmental management.

Despite its pristine areas, the Guiana Shield faces considerable environmental pressures. Tree mortality patterns in its forests are examined, distinguishing the complex roles of drought, selective logging, and species-specific traits. This detailed analysis helps disentangle the drivers of forest dynamics, offering critical information about the resilience and vulnerability of these ancient ecosystems to anthropogenic pressures and climate variability [8]. Moreover, mining activities present extensive impacts on water quality and aquatic biodiversity throughout the region. A review and synthesis consolidate findings on various pollutants and their ecological consequences, providing a comprehensive overview of how extractive industries threaten unique freshwater ecosystems and highlighting the need for stricter environmental regulations and rehabilitation efforts [7]. Climate change also poses a significant threat, with a systematic review examining its projected impacts on hydrology and water resources. This analysis synthesizes existing research, highlighting vulnerabilities in water availability and riverine ecosystems, emphasizing the urgent need for adaptive management strategies to mitigate future environmental and socio-economic challenges [6].

In response to these threats, robust conservation and monitoring strategies are being developed and implemented. Research has demonstrated the effectiveness of protected areas and indigenous lands in curbing deforestation across the Guiana Shield [4]. This underscores their critical role in maintaining forest cover and biodiversity, providing compelling evidence for their continued protection and support as vital conservation strategies [4]. Advanced remote sensing technologies are also pivotal; novel research focuses on using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 satellite data to effectively map and monitor deforestation and forest degradation across the region. This showcases the utility of such technologies in providing accurate and timely information for conservation efforts, helping to track environmental changes and inform policy decisions [9].

A critical aspect of conservation in the Guiana Shield involves integrating traditional ecological knowledge. An insightful study explores the knowledge held by indigenous communities regarding medicinal plants and its significance for conservation [10]. This research highlights how ancestral knowledge systems contribute to understanding plant biodiversity and sustainable resource management, emphasizing the importance of integrating indigenous perspectives into broader conservation strategies for the region [10]. This holistic approach, combining scientific research with traditional wisdom, is essential for preserving the Shield's unique natural heritage.

Conclusion

The Guiana Shield is a region of immense geological and ecological significance, with recent studies offering deep insights into its long-term weathering processes and critical zone development, alongside ancient magmatism that is crucial for understanding supercontinent dynamics. Ecologically, it stands as a global hotspot for biodiversity, with research detailing small mammal distribution patterns and the complex hydro-geomorphic dynamics of its pristine tropical rivers, such as the Essequibo. Despite its inherent richness, the Guiana Shield faces substantial environmental threats. These include widespread deforestation, influenced by factors like drought and selective logging, as well as significant impacts from mining activities on water quality and aquatic biodiversity. Projected climate change also introduces critical vulnerabilities to its hydrology and vital water resources. Crucially, studies affirm that protected areas and indigenous lands are highly effective in mitigating deforestation, while advanced remote sensing technologies, including Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2, prove instrumental in monitoring forest degradation. Furthermore, the invaluable traditional ecological knowledge held by indigenous communities regarding medicinal plants is recognized as a vital component for conservation and sustainable resource management. Collectively, these diverse studies underscore the Guiana Shield's profound importance, the myriad challenges it currently faces, and the urgent need for integrated strategies, combining scientific understanding with indigenous wisdom, to safeguard this critical global ecosystem for future generations.

Acknowledgement

None

Conflict of Interest

None

References

L. MPvdP, M. WBvdM, D. JJvdL. "Long-term weathering and critical zone development on the Guiana Shield: Insights from geochemical mass balance on the Siphaliwini river catchment (Suriname)".Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 323 (2022):168-191.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

M. ROdL, M. SD, L. MVAG. "Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic magmatism in the Guyana Shield and its implications for the assembly and dispersal of Pangea".J. South Am. Earth Sci. 105 (2021):102919.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

M. AT, D. ACBdA, T. MLdO. "Diversity and distribution of small mammals (Didelphimorphia, Rodentia) in a pristine area of the Guiana Shield, Brazil".Zoologia 36 (2019):e29531.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

Flávia RPA, Erika LMMdO, Marina CMdP. "Protected areas and indigenous lands are effective in preventing deforestation in the Guiana Shield".Front. For. Glob. Change 6 (2023):1104618.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

Kimberly KSES, L. ASR, L. SDMS. "Hydro-geomorphic dynamics of tropical rivers in the Guiana Shield: A multiscale analysis of the Essequibo River, Guyana".Earth Surf. Process. Landforms 46 (2021):2901-2916.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

Luiz FNS, Andréa S, Marcos CJT. "Climate change impacts on hydrology and water resources in the Guiana Shield: A systematic review".Environ. Sci. Policy 153 (2024):103681.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

P. AvdP, L. CPV, S. TMJAvdB. "Mining impacts on water quality and aquatic biodiversity in the Guiana Shield: A review and synthesis".Sci. Total Environ. 791 (2021):148386.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

Floris EFAvdH, Peter MJMvdM, Erik KMdV. "Tree mortality patterns in a Guiana Shield forest: disentangling the role of drought, logging, and species traits".For. Ecol. Manage. 461 (2020):117937.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

Clarice RdS, Marcilene BSdM, Luiz SNdC. "Mapping and monitoring deforestation and forest degradation in the Guiana Shield using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data".Remote Sens. Appl. Soc. Environ. 30 (2023):100958.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

Maria AVdS, Ricardo VAS, Celso LSdS. "Traditional ecological knowledge and conservation of medicinal plants in indigenous communities of the Guiana Shield".J. Ethnopharmacol. 289 (2022):115003.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

References

L. MPvdP, M. WBvdM, D. JJvdL. "Long-term weathering and critical zone development on the Guiana Shield: Insights from geochemical mass balance on the Siphaliwini river catchment (Suriname)".Geochim. Cosmochim. Acta 323 (2022):168-191.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

M. ROdL, M. SD, L. MVAG. "Late Paleozoic to Mesozoic magmatism in the Guyana Shield and its implications for the assembly and dispersal of Pangea".J. South Am. Earth Sci. 105 (2021):102919.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

M. AT, D. ACBdA, T. MLdO. "Diversity and distribution of small mammals (Didelphimorphia, Rodentia) in a pristine area of the Guiana Shield, Brazil".Zoologia 36 (2019):e29531.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

Flávia RPA, Erika LMMdO, Marina CMdP. "Protected areas and indigenous lands are effective in preventing deforestation in the Guiana Shield".Front. For. Glob. Change 6 (2023):1104618.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

Kimberly KSES, L. ASR, L. SDMS. "Hydro-geomorphic dynamics of tropical rivers in the Guiana Shield: A multiscale analysis of the Essequibo River, Guyana".Earth Surf. Process. Landforms 46 (2021):2901-2916.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

Luiz FNS, Andréa S, Marcos CJT. "Climate change impacts on hydrology and water resources in the Guiana Shield: A systematic review".Environ. Sci. Policy 153 (2024):103681.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

P. AvdP, L. CPV, S. TMJAvdB. "Mining impacts on water quality and aquatic biodiversity in the Guiana Shield: A review and synthesis".Sci. Total Environ. 791 (2021):148386.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

Floris EFAvdH, Peter MJMvdM, Erik KMdV. "Tree mortality patterns in a Guiana Shield forest: disentangling the role of drought, logging, and species traits".For. Ecol. Manage. 461 (2020):117937.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

Clarice RdS, Marcilene BSdM, Luiz SNdC. "Mapping and monitoring deforestation and forest degradation in the Guiana Shield using Sentinel-1 and Sentinel-2 data".Remote Sens. Appl. Soc. Environ. 30 (2023):100958.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref

Maria AVdS, Ricardo VAS, Celso LSdS. "Traditional ecological knowledge and conservation of medicinal plants in indigenous communities of the Guiana Shield".J. Ethnopharmacol. 289 (2022):115003.

Indexed at, Google Scholar, Crossref