What you need to know to understand the recent tragedy in the Pantanal

In 2020, the Pantanal suffered from terrible fires and deforestation at levels not recorded for the last 50 years.

Considered the greatest environmental tragedy of the last few decades, the fires were aggravated by long periods of drought and weather conducive to lightning – which, without rain, can start fires.

Human action, with illegal burning, as well as irregular conduct of large companies in relation to preservation, are also some of the hypotheses raised for the great devastation. It is worth remembering that the Pantanal had already been suffering from deforestation, a situation only worsened by the fires.

Photo: Gustavo Figueiroa

According to the latest data released, in 2020, the biome registered alarming numbers, with more than 4.5 million hectares devastated by fire and 30% of the entire territory affected by the fires. In addition, there was an estimated loss of more than 60% of the fauna in some regions.

We have selected the main news stories on the subject, which have been published from the beginning of the environmental tragedy until more recently, so that you can keep up to date on the subject and understand more about the impacts of the fires in the Pantanal

2020 Retrospective – SOS Pantanal

Greenery is resurgent in the Pantanal, but animal exodus is a cause for concern

Pantanal fires: why fire still threatens the ecosystem even after the arrival of the rains

Commission on fires will focus on the Amazon and the Cerrado in 2021

Why the Pantanal is experiencing the “greatest environmental tragedy” in decades

Volunteers take risks to save animals from forest fires

Pantanal has the highest monthly number of fires in history

Images of the animals’ fight for life in the burning Pantanal