Pantanal - Threats To The Pantanal

Threats To The Pantanal

The Pantanal region includes essential sanctuaries for migratory birds, critical nursery grounds for aquatic life, and refuges for such creatures as the yacare caiman, deer, and jaguar.

The main human activities which threaten the Pantanal ecosystems are:

• Commercial fishing: Fishing is focused on only a few species and is probably not sustainable.
• National and international sport fishing: The Paraguay river and its tributaries are the main focus for fishing activities.
• Cattle-ranching:
  • Approximately 99% of the land in the Pantanal is privately owned for the purpose of agriculture and ranching
  • There are 2500 fazendas in the region and up to eight million cattle.
  • Erosion and sedimentation caused by this activity alter the soil and hydrological characteristics of Pantanal flood-plain ecosystems; consequently, native species are threatened by the change in ecosystem variables.
• Hunting, poaching, and smuggling of endangered species: Reptile, wild cat and parrot species are particularly at risk from the smuggling industry due to their high value on the black market.
• Uncontrolled tourism and overuse of natural resources
• Deforestation
  • Deforestation is more relevant to elevated areas of the Pantanal which contain forest stands than lowland grassy areas.
  • Silt run-off from deforested highlands alters soil hydrology and is a significant threat to the Pantanal.
• Pollution from gold mining operations and agro-industry
  • The Pantanal is a natural water treatment system as it removes chemicals, including pollutants, from water. Overpollution from industrial development (especially gold mining) can harm native flora and fauna.
  • However, water quality in the Pantanal was not significantly impacted as of 2002.
  • Recent high flooding has caused inundation of cultivated areas surrounding the park. The receding flood waters carried large amounts of pesticides back into the rivers and lakes, killing a great number of fish.
• Pollution from sewage systems and pesticides
• Infrastructure development (shipping canals, raised roads, pipelines): The proposed plan to dredge the Paraguay and Paraná Rivers to allow oceangoing ships to travel 3,442 kilometres (2,139 mi) inland is of particular concern and could affect the hydrology (flooding and drainage cycles) of the region, and therefore impact the ecosystem.