pantanal
Wildfires devastate Brazil’s Pantanal, threatening rare species
Brazil’s Pantanal wetlands are being ravaged by record wildfires, endangering countless animals, including vulnerable species like jaguars and giant anteaters.
In short:
- The Pantanal, the world's largest tropical wetland, is burning due to severe droughts and climate change.
- The fires have killed or injured many animals, including rare jaguars and hyacinth macaws.
- Scientists fear the damage to the ecosystem may be irreversible if the fires continue.
Key quote:
“We’re watching the biodiversity of the Pantanal disappear into ash. It’s being burned to a crisp.”
— Gustavo Figueirôa, biologist, SOS Pantanal
Why this matters:
The Pantanal is one of the planet’s most biodiverse regions. Its destruction could lead to the extinction of several species and the loss of an irreplaceable natural environment.
The world’s largest wetland, Pantanal, threaten by waterway plans
A controversial waterway project in Brazil could devastate the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland, endangering its rich biodiversity and the livelihoods of local communities.
In short:
- The Hidrovia Paraguay-Paraná project plans to dredge and develop the Paraguay River to facilitate grain export, risking severe environmental damage.
- Scientists warn the project could destroy habitats, decrease fish populations and increase greenhouse gas emissions.
- Local communities fear the waterway will end their traditional livelihoods of fishing and farming.
Key quote:
“It seems a high price to pay: destroying the Pantanal, one of the world’s unique systems, to reduce the price of grain. It is a war – a war which risks extinction.”
— Carolina Joana da Silva, professor at Mato Grosso State University.
Why this matters:
The Pantanal is a critical refuge for endangered species and a significant carbon sink. Its destruction could have global environmental consequences.
Related: Amazon rainforest at risk of significant transformation by mid-century, study indicates
Brazil’s Pantanal is at risk of collapse, scientists say
New Brazil bill puts cattle pasture over Pantanal wetland
Lawmakers in Brazil have approved a bill that allows extensive ranching and tourism in protected areas of the Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland.
A waterway project in Brazil imperils a vast tropical wetland
The Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland, has been battered in recent years by agricultural development, drought, and fire. A push to turn the region’s key river into a waterway for soybean-laden barges threatens to alter the natural flows of this iconic ecosystem.
Most global food brands continue to have a dismal record on beef and deforestation
Despite pledges of reform, the world's leading supermarket and fast-food companies are doing little to address the environmental and human rights abuses associated with beef production.
