Riverside communities are made up of people who inhabit the banks of rivers, streams and lakes in the Amazon Rainforest. Their ways of life are totally linked to the flow of water, adapting to periods of drought and flood of rivers. Among the main economic activities carried out by riverside residents are artisanal fishing, subsistence farms, extractive practices and also the production and sale of handicrafts, generally wood carving and basketry made from straw from the region.

The life of riverside dwellers in the Amazon is also characterized by isolation between rivers and forest. They generally live in floating houses, which follow the rhythm of floods and droughts, and use rivers as a means of transport using rowing or motor-powered boats. Geographic isolation and the lack of public policies for these communities make access to essential health, education and other services such as electricity, basic sanitation and communication technology difficult.

The riverside communities were only officially recognized in 2007, and currently more than 350 communities are identified in the Amazon Rainforest region. Riverine populations are essential for maintaining forests and have traditional ways of life that must be respected.

(source: www.delborgo.com)