eDNA First: doubling down on eDNA sequencing for large-scale environmental monitoring

Over the past five years, we have implemented continuous eDNA surveys across three major hydroelectric reservoirs in Brazil, demonstrating the power of metabarcoding to capture aquatic biodiversity with precision and efficiency. Building on this experience, we are now extending our efforts to test the representativeness of eDNA samples from the Amazon rainforest to the offshore waters of the “Blue Amazon.” We argue that only eDNA offers the scalability, transparency, and reliability needed to monitor biodiversity at the pace and scale required for conservation and sustainability.