Due to poor rainfall and the lack of the usual seasonal floods, Brazil is in the grip of fires which risk compromising the habitat of many species
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The fires are devastating the Pantanalthe largest tropical wetland in the world, located in Brazil central-western, advancing dangerously towards Bolivia. This catastrophic scenario is fueled by little rain and by the lack of the usual seasonal flooding, making the region extremely vulnerable.
The fires, which began in June, saw a 980% increase in early 2024 compared to the same period the previous year, reaching the highest levels since 2020, a tragic year for the biome. Satellite data from the Brazilian National Institute for Space Research (INPE) reveal a worrying increase in fires in the Pantanal.
Until June 5, they were registered 978 outbreaks, compared to just 91 of the previous year. This increase represents the second highest value of the last 15 years, surpassed only by 2020, when around 30% of the Pantanal was devastated by flames.
There is a risk of habitat loss for many species
As mentioned, the situation is further aggravated by adverse climatic conditions. According to Cyntia Santos, environmentalist for WWF Brazil, the rainfall was lower than the historical average since the end of last year, creating an environment conducive to fires. The combination of drought, high temperatures and a lack of seasonal flooding has left the Pantanal extremely dry and vulnerable.
Vinicius Silgueiro, territorial intelligence coordinator at the NGO Instituto Centro de Vida, described the start of 2024 as one of the worst in terms of hot spots since the start of the time series in 1998. The fire season usually starts in July and peaks between August and September, but this year the fires they started earlycausing alarm among experts.
The Pantanal, about ten times the size of the Florida Everglades, is home to unique biodiversity, including jaguars, caimans, anacondas and giant anteaters. The loss of this valuable habitat represents a serious threat to wildlife and the ecosystem as a whole.
In response to this crisis, the Brazilian government signed a pact with the state governors of the Pantanal and Amazon regions to fight the fires. The state of Mato Grosso do Sul, which contains most of Brazil’s Pantanal, has already declared the state of environmental emergency.
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Source: G1
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