Injustice flows along Itaya River: capabilities from living with river rhythmicity in Bajo Belén, Iquitos, Peru

In riverine contexts shaped by seasonal fluctuations, communities cultivate ways of living with water that reflect deep social and ecological entanglements. This study focuses on Bajo Belén, a peri-urban community along the Itaya River in the Peruvian Amazon, where residents live with vaciante (dry season) and creciente (flood season) through practices that sustain their livelihoods. Using a braided approach by weaving living with river rhythmicity, the Capabilities Approach, and Environmental Justice, we analyze 41 storytelling sessions (2022–2024). Our findings show drought and flood processes; and how community capabilities are built through living with the river, yet remain unrecognized in state responses such as forced relocation. This non-recognition leads to non-inclusive procedures and an unequal distribution of blame and responsibility. We argue for governance that respects plural ways of living and supports community-defined aspirations. Situating care, recognition, and capability within river governance offers new pathways for more just, relational, and adaptive responses to environmental uncertainty.