“The Pantanal is on fire and only a sustainable agenda can save the largest wetland in the world”, this is the warning that researchers, from three institutions, made through the scientific article published in the Brazilian Journal of Biology, in June. The researchers contextualize the several drought in the Pantanal, present data on the loss of fauna in the 2020 wildfire and make recommendations for building a sustainable agenda with the objective of conserving the biome.
According to the article, the fires may have affected at least 65 million native vertebrates and 4 billion invertebrates, based on known species densities. Affected species include the endangered jaguar (Panthera onca), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus), crowned solitary eagle (Buteogallus coronatus) and hyacinth macaw (Anodorhynchus hyacinthinus). Impacts on these species can be direct by injuries and death, or indirect due to habitat loss and resource shortage.
For sustainable agenda are indicated, “Tax incentives and rewards for environmental services and biodiversity conservation should be provided to landowners and communities engaged in sustainable land use and conservation practices. The expansion of the protected area network and the promotion of green technologies for infrastructure projects”.
Photo: André Zumak
