Conclusion
The Amazon várzea have tremendous biodiversity. Humans have inhabited the várzea for tens of thousands of years. For the most part, human use of the várzea has been sustainable. With the onset of "white man," the várzea have been destroyed bit by bit. As populations in the Amazon increase, this is only going to be worsened. The várzea are being destroyed by human exploitation of natural resources, as well as by making room for humans to live. Sadly, relatively little of the várzea, or the Amazon in general, is protected. To make matters worse, politics in the area generally favor industrialization rather than conservation. This is especially true with the move to create dams.
In order for destruction to cease (or better yet, be reversed), conservation must be given more consideration by the government, as well as by everyone who is living in the Amazon. Perhaps foreign governments should put pressure on Amazonian governments to make conservation a priority. Conservation might be easier said than done. How can the region be conserved if it must support increasingly higher populations? This is a question that will probably be asked often as populations around the world continue to rise.
Much of the várzea has yet to be studied. If current trends continue, many species may go extinct before we even know they exist. The governments need to create more protected areas, as well as limit destructive practices such as dam building, gold extraction, logging, ranching, and large-scale commercial agriculture. This will help preserve the várzea for future study, research, and exploration.
This bird is the Greater Schiffornis (Schiffornis major). It has several other names, including Greater Manakin, Várzea Schiffornis, Cinnamon Mourner, and Várzea Mourner. Interestingly, I found this bird when looking for a picture for this conclusion. As I read its common names, I decided it was very fitting for the conclusion to this website. If we do not make an effort to conserve the várzea and the Amazon in general, then it is likely we will be mourning the loss of the várzea, and we will probably be mourning the loss of the Várzea Mourner as well.