BomFuturo.org - Pantanal - Problemi e Minacce

BomFuturo.org - Pantanal - Environment and Biodiversity Conservation

Problems and threats to the Pantanal have different origins and causes. They all however affect the environment and are dangerous for the very sensitive, fragile and complex eco

system of this region: Problemi e minacce per il Pantanal derivano da svariate cause, che concorrono ad indebolire e a mettere in pericolo il delicato e complesso ecosistema della regione.

acceleration of soil erosion and river sedimentation processes o The expansion of human activities such as the heavily mechanized agriculture on the surrounding uplands determines alterations and acceleration in the natural processes of sedimentation and soil erosion, with serious consequences for the various vegetal and animal species also in the Pantanal lowland

construction of dams and hydro

electric stations o dams, dykes and hydro

electric stations alter the natural water

flow patterns, creating barriers to fish migration, deviating the original water ways between rivers and other stretches of water

water contamination of the rivers in their upstream flow o pesticides and more generally agro

chemical products used for agricultural purposes, especially on the highlands, are washed into the rivers and streams causing a contamination of their upstream flows. In addition to this, untreated domestic sewage and garbage is discharged into the Pantanal rivers and wetlands, causing organic overload and sediment and also chemical contamination. o other problems are caused by gold and diamond mining operations (often illegal in the so

called garimpos) due to mercury contamination: mercury is used to concentrate gold found in sand and gravel deposits and doesn't disperse properly in the environment; it can also cause genetic malformations

unorganized tourism activities o Lack of planning and methods to minimize the Environment and Biodiversity impact coupled with lack of inspections and control heavily effect the Pantanal natural environment and eco

systems

poaching and illegal traffic of animal wild species o this concerns especially some wild species living in the Pantanal, like the Arara

azul (the hyacinthine macaw), the marsh

deer of Pantanal, the jacaré (Pantanal's caiman), the jaguar

illegal fishing and overfishing o overfishing as well as illegal fishing are often due to the scarce or total absence of inspection activities: they contribute to selective pressure upon different freshwater species, thus distorting the natural ecological balance in the environment o the annual fish harvest in the Pantanal reaches over 3,000 tons

fires of human origin o they are set by ranchers and farmers to clear the land for new pastures and sowing o are particularly prevalent in the Brazilian Pantanal and highlands during September and October o although natural fires play an Environment and Biodiversity role, the extent of this human

induced burning is quite remarkable also for the wild areas of Pantanal and their flora and fauna species

introduction of non

native grass species o cattle ranching has been practised for about 200 years in the Pantanal's less remote areas but among the 'innovations' introduced in recent times there was also the use of non

native grass species mainly from Africa, that cause a loss in the original biodiversity of the region

the Paraguay

Parana Waterway Project or Hidrovia o this intergovernmental project has come to the fore several times over the past decade: it proposed to 'facilitate' navigation over 3,300 km of the Paraguay and Paraná Rivers, connecting the city of Cáceres in Mato Grosso, Brazil to the Nueva Palmira Port in Uruguay o a primary goal of the project was to create a year

round navigational transport of cargo from the northern most navigable portion of the Paraguay River to the Atlantic Ocean o developing this system for navigation would include deep dredging, the establishment of canals, excavation of rocky beds to accommodate barges up to 3 m draft during low

water periods, realignment of channels, the improvement of port and roadway infrastructures o such construction works

which will allow for the navigation of large barge convoys transporting mineral products, soy

beans and other (raw) materials throughout the year

would have devastating effects on the environment in the Pantanal: large sections of it would be drained, with the increased speed of water

flow down the Paraguay River. The various species depending on aquatic environments would loose critical refuges, and the normal alternation of floods into the floodplain, so essential for sustaining bio

diversity, would be destroyed o the project has been harshly criticized and opposed by many NGOs as well as conservation scientists and other organizations: although it is no longer seen as viable in its original structure any more, it reappears at times in the form of smaller hydrological initiatives that remain active projects.