アマゾン先住民保護区、汚染吸収で医療費抑制に貢献

【リオデジャネイロＡＦＰ＝時事】ブラジル・アマゾンの先住民保護区の熱帯雨林が毎年数千トンの大気汚染物質を吸収し、年間約２０億ドル（約２６３０億円）相当の呼吸器系・循環器系疾患の治療に掛かる医療費の抑制につながっているとする研究結果が６日、発表された。（写真はブラジルのロライマ州にある、アマゾンの熱帯雨林に暮らす先住民族・ヤノマミ族の居留地）
　森林火災で大気中に放出される大量の粒子は何百キロも移動し、遠方の都市の大気の質にも損害を与える。アマゾン先住民は森林火災から自分たちの土地を守ることにより、汚染物質を吸収する樹木を保存し、致命的な疾患の予防に貢献しているという。
　論文の筆頭著者である米非営利研究機関エコヘルス・アライアンスのポーラ・プリスト氏は「森林は樹木の葉の気孔を通じて火災由来の汚染物質を吸収することで知られているが、熱帯林の吸収力を推定したのは今回が初めてだ」と述べた。
　同氏によると、アマゾンの熱帯雨林全体では毎年２万６０００トンの粒子を吸収する能力があり、うち２７％を先住民族居留地が担っている。これは、先住民が管理している森林が毎年１５００万例の疾病を予防し、少なくとも約２０億ドルの医療費を節約していることになる。
　先住民居留地が森林保護に重要な役割を果たしており、その汚染吸収能力は気候変動の抑制に不可欠なことは数々の研究によって分かっている。
　先住民の指導者らは新しい研究結果が、居留地の保護を訴える新たな論拠になると歓迎している。【翻訳編集ＡＦＰＢＢＮｅｗｓ】
〔ＡＦＰ＝時事〕（2023/04/12-16:45）

Protected Indigenous reservations in the Amazon rainforest absorb thousands of tonnes of airborne pollution each year, saving around $2 billion annually in healthcare costs for treating respiratory and cardiovascular diseases, according to a study published Thursday.
The decade-long study analyzed the health impacts of forest fires in the Brazilian Amazon, which release huge amounts of particles into the atmosphere that can travel hundreds of kilometers (miles), damaging the air quality in distant cities.
By protecting their own lands against such fires -- often set by land-grabbers, cattle ranchers and others encroaching on the forest -- and instead saving pollution-absorbing trees, Amazon Indigenous peoples help prevent thousands of cases of potentially deadly diseases, found the study, published in the journal Communications, Earth & Environment.
Worldwide, forests are known for absorbing pollutants from fires through pores on the surface of the leaves, but this is the first time we have estimated the capacity of tropical forests to do this, said lead author Paula Prist of US-based research group EcoHealth Alliance.
Our results indicate that the Amazon rainforest can absorb as much as 26,000 metric tonnes of the particles every year, and Indigenous territories are responsible for 27 percent of this absorption, she said in a statement.
The study found Indigenous forests prevent 15 million cases of disease each year, saving the health care system at least $2 billion -- a conservative estimate, researchers said.
Numerous studies have found protected Indigenous lands play a key role in protecting forests, whose pollution-absorbing capacity makes them vital to the race to curb climate change.
Indigenous leaders said the new study adds yet another argument to the case for protecting native lands.
They urged Brazilian President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva to follow through on his promise to resume creating new Indigenous reservations, a process that was suspended under his far-right predecessor, Jair Bolsonaro (2019-2022).
This study reinforces what Indigenous peoples have been saying for ages, said Dinamam Tuxa, executive coordinator of the Association of Brazil's Indigenous Peoples (APIB).
It demonstrates the importance of our territories in fighting dangerous pollution... and climate change.