1 PANTANAL: USE AND CONSERVATION MÁRIO DANTAS 1 ABSTRACT: The Pantanal is one of the largest continuous floodable ecosystems on Earth. It is located in the middle of South America, 80%-85% belonging to Brazil, 10%- 15% to Bolivia and 5% to Paraguay. It is also one of the best-conserved ecosystems in terms of biodiversity and land use. Practically there are no agricultural activities within Pantanal plain. The main economical activity is beef cattle raising on native and extensive pastures. Fishing tourism and other touristic activities are observed but less important than cattle ranching. The biodiversity so far identified in this region is expressed by 2,000 species of plants, 263 of fishes, 90 of mammals, 700 of birds, 45 of amphibians and 162 of reptiles. At least eleven different subregions are identified, depending on the vegetation, soil and hydrologic regime. Open grassland, cerrado savannah and forest vegetation form mosaics with elements from Amazonian forest, Cerrado, Atlantic forest and Chaco biomes. The use of this land for extensive cattle production system has contributed to its conservation in such way that vigorous populations of some animals exist, like caimans, capybaras and deers. Inside the Pantanal plain the environmental impacts are of low importance, but the region has been affected by agricultural activities on the plateau where sandy soil erosion has been causing sedimentation of the rivers and agrochemical application on soybean plantations has contaminated water bodies. Programs for planning and implementing public policies for the use and conservation of Pantanal have been carried out and discussed mainly in the Brazilian part. 1 PhD in Ecology, Director, Centre for Agricultural Research on the Pantanal (CPAP) Embrapa Pantanal.
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PANTANAL: USE AND CONSERVATION
MÁRIO DANTAS1
ABSTRACT: The Pantanal is one of the largest continuous floodable ecosystems on
Earth. It is located in the middle of South America, 80%-85% belonging to Brazil, 10%-
15% to Bolivia and 5% to Paraguay. It is also one of the best-conserved ecosystems in
terms of biodiversity and land use. Practically there are no agricultural activities within
Pantanal plain. The main economical activity is beef cattle raising on native and
extensive pastures. Fishing tourism and other touristic activities are observed but less
important than cattle ranching. The biodiversity so far identified in this region is
expressed by 2,000 species of plants, 263 of fishes, 90 of mammals, 700 of birds, 45 of
amphibians and 162 of reptiles. At least eleven different subregions are identified,
depending on the vegetation, soil and hydrologic regime. Open grassland, cerrado
savannah and forest vegetation form mosaics with elements from Amazonian forest,
Cerrado, Atlantic forest and Chaco biomes. The use of this land for extensive cattle
production system has contributed to its conservation in such way that vigorous
populations of some animals exist, like caimans, capybaras and deers. Inside the
Pantanal plain the environmental impacts are of low importance, but the region has been
affected by agricultural activities on the plateau where sandy soil erosion has been
causing sedimentation of the rivers and agrochemical application on soybean plantations
has contaminated water bodies. Programs for planning and implementing public policies
for the use and conservation of Pantanal have been carried out and discussed mainly in
the Brazilian part.
1 PhD in Ecology, Director, Centre for Agricultural Research on the Pantanal (CPAP) Embrapa Pantanal.
III Simpósio sobre Recursos Naturais e Sócio-econômicos do Pantanal Os Desafios do Novo Milênio De 27 a 30 de Novembro de 2000 - Corumbá-MS
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PANTANAL: USO E CONSERVAÇÃO
RESUMO: O Pantanal é um dos maiores ecosistemas inundáveis contínuos da terra.
Está localizado no centro da América do Sul, 80%-85% pertencente ao Brasil, 10%-
15% à Bolívia e 5% ao Paraguai. È também um dos mais bem conservados ecosistemas
em termos de biodiversidade e uso da terra. Praticamente não há atividades agrícolas
dentro da planície pantaneira. A principal atividade econômica é a criação de gado de
corte em pastagens nativas. O turismo de pesca e outras atividades turísticas podem ser
observadas mas são menos importantes do que a pecuária. A biodiversidade até então
identificada nesta região é expressa por duas mil espécies de plantas, 263 de peixes, 90
de mamíferos, 45 de anfíbios e 162 de répteis. Pelo menos onze diferentes sub-regiões
são identificadas, dependendo da vegetação, solo e regime hidrológico. Campos limpos,
cerrado e vegetação florestal formam mosaicos com elementos da Amazônia, do
Cerrado, da Floresta Atlântica e do Chaco. O uso destas terras para a pecuária de corte
em sistema de produção extensivo tem contribuído para sua conservação de tal modo
que vigorosas populações de alguns animais existem, como jacarés, capivaras e veados.
Dentro do Pantanal os impactos ambientais são de pouca importância, mas a região tem
sido afetada pelas atividades agrícolas no planalto onde a erosão de solos arenosos tem
causado a sedimentação dos rios e a aplicação de agroquímicos em plantações de soja
tem contaminado os corpos d’água. Programas para planejamento e implementação de
políticas públicas para o uso e conservação do Pantanal têm sido conduzidos e
discutidos principalmente pelo Brasil.
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INTRODUCTION
The Pantanal is one of the world´s largest continuous wetlands, where flocks of
wading birds and Neotropical mammals live together with a three million Nelore Zebu
herd. More than 200 grasses and hundreds of forbs, as well as browsing species, live on
a mosaic of rivers, floodplains, channels, ponds, flooded grasslands, cerrado Savannah,
and some dry forest on ancient levees - used as rangeland for more than two centuries,
this being the main cattle breeding area of Central Brazil. Brazilian federal government
and Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul States´ government have along the years
conducted action plans to implement development studies for the Pantanal use and
conservation. Many of those studies have been implemented by many others have
resulted in documents only. Two symposia have been held at Corumbá aiming to
discuss the research results achieved by the different institutions working in the region.
Many researches have been carried out in this region, but there are many more
necessary in order to generate, adapt and transfer knowledge and technologies, aiming
at the development of the Pantanal according to conservationist principles. The
sustainable development of this region depends on such procedures.
THE BRAZILIAN PANTANAL FEATURES
The Pantanal region covers an area of about 200,000 km2, with 80% to 85% on
this area in Brazil, 10% to 15% belonging to Bolivia, and an estimated 5% within the
borders of Paraguay. One established study delineating the dimensions of the Brazilian
Pantanal places its area at 138,183 km2. The Brazilian Pantanal is located within the
Upper Paraguay River Basin, which occupies 361,666 km2 (FIG. 1).
The Pantanal was formed around 65 million years ago when the uplift of Andes
caused the collapse of this region and the process of sedimentation was initiated.
Therefore, soils in the Pantanal are alluvial, sandy (65%), hydromorphic (92%), and
with low fertility (72%). The climate is hot and humid in the summer and mild and dry
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in winter; precipitation varies from 1,000 to 1,400 mm, concentrated from December to
March (Table 1).
TABLE 1. Pantanal general features.
Area 138,183 km2
Subregions 11
Townships 16
Geological age 65 million years
Average temperature 25°C
Rainfall 1,000 - 1,400 mm
Humidity 65-85%
Declivity N-S - 1.5 cm/km
E-W 2.5 cm/km
Ranchs 4,094
Upper Paraguay basin 361,666 km2
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FIG. 1. Location of BAP and Brazilian Pantanal and its subregions
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The water regime resulting in flood and dry periods is a very important
characteristic of Pantanal where the water seems to command the life. Sometimes there
is excess of water sometimes lack. The data that have been collected by Brazilian Navy
at Ladario harbour showing the fluctuation of Paraguay river level through one century
do not present a clear tendency to increase humid or dry periods but suggest the
alternation of quite long periods of high and low floods (FIG. 2).
FIG. 2. Minimum, mean and maximum Paraguay river levels at Ladario, MS,
Brazil
Cerrado is the dominant type of vegetation, observing dominance of grassland
(open fields) in lower areas, which are affected by water during certain time of the year.
Riparian forest and forest or arboreous vegetation are observed in higher parts. So far
about 1,800 plant species have been listed and many of them are of economic value.
This includes about 200 species of grasses and 100 herbaceous legumes and many
others, which can be used as timber, medical use, fructiferous, and so forth.
The Pantanal supports a rich fauna of mammals (90 species), reptiles (162), birds
(700), amphibians (45), fishes (263) and thousands of insect species. Some of those
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species present vigorous populations as for example caiman (Caiman corcodilus
yacare) and capybara (Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris) (Table 2 e Table 3).
TABLE 2. Pantanal major biological diversity
Plants (220 aquatic) 1,860 species
Fishes 263
Birds 700
Mammals 90
Reptiles 162
Amphibians 45
Insects (unknown) > 1,000 butterflies
TABLE 3. Population abundance
Caiman c. yacare > 3 million
Hydrochaeris hydrochaeris 4000,00
Blastocerus dichotomus 36,000
Ozotocerus bezoarticus 41,000 groups (1,7 indv)
Sus scrofa 10,000 groups (> 10 indv)
Mirmeco tridactyla 5,000
Jabiru mycteria 15,000 active nests
Bubalus bubalis 5,000
Bos taurus 3 million
Human population densities inside Pantanal are very low, with around 30,000
people. Towns are located surrounding the plain (FIG. 3). This region was occupied
around two centuries ago when cattle were introduced in its native pastures. So
extensive beef cattle breeding has been the main economic activity, today with a herd
estimated in three million of heads. This system has contributed for the conservation of
Pantanal. Sport fishing and tourism have increased over the last ten years and are the
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second leading economic activity. Perhaps ecotourism and other touristic activities (bird
watching, tracking, scientific tourism, catching and release type fishing, etc) will
increase and eventually overtake beef cattle breeding in economic importance. There is
great potential in higher areas around Pantanal for mining exploitation for iron,
manganese, phosphate and limestone. There is activity of iron and manganese mining
with a tendency to be improved depending on electricity power availability.
There are no serious environmental impacts generated inside the Pantanal plain,
but agriculture and cultivated pastures conducted on sandy soils of the plateau have
caused tremendous disaster in the plain because of the siltation and sedimentation of
some river tributaries of Paraguay River. The worst example is the Taquari River. This
process occurred naturally for centuries but actually it is occurring in very short time,
causing the lifting of riverbed, the collapse of the riverbanks, and overflooding of large
areas during most of the year. That has obliged farmers and small holders to move out,
abandoning their no longer productive lands. This is in my opinion the most serious and
complicated ecological problem in the Pantanal. There are other maybe-small problems
such as the contamination of water bodies by mercury resulting from gold mining
operations, and in consequence the contamination of microorganisms, fishes, birds and
animals that feed on aquatic organisms. There are also threats of aquatic contamination
by agrochemicals. All of these problems are originated outside the plain.
Within the plain some areas covered by forest or dense arboreous vegetation have
been cleared for the purpose of cultivating pastures. Those areas represent around 3.9%
of the Brazilian Pantanal. The increase of agricultural activities in the planalto or
highlands surrounding the Pantanal, the implementation of projects like Paraguay-
Parana Waterway, or Hidrovia, the Bolivia-Brazil gas pipeline already constructed,
roads, dikes, and touristic infrastructure represent great risks for Pantanal conservation.
There is another problem that I would like to point out. With the intention of
preservation, some groups are buying extensions of land and removing the cattle from
those areas. There is an enormous risk of fire - natural or intentionally produced - which
may be disastrous because without big herbivores the grasses become tall accumulating
a high amount of biomass. In dry periods, if a fire happens, the control will be
impossible or very difficult.
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PRELIMINARY STUDIES
The main studies and facts related with Pantanal development started with the
hydrologic studies conducted in 1970 by DNOS (National Department for Works and
Sanitation) resulting in a profile or a hydrologic model of water behaviour (Brasil,
Seplan, IPEA, 1977).
In 1971, the PRODOESTE (Program for the Development of Centre-West) has
indicated new economic frontiers to the whole region affecting the Pantanal (Brasil,
Seplan, IPEA, 1977). Another study was conducted by Porto (1971) on “Subsidies for
Pantanal development program” where he considered the economic and social
stagnation as the main problem to the development of Pantanal. The origin of this
problem would be the lack of public and private investments and extractive activity. He
indicated the potentialities of the region and the guidelines for a development program.
The study entitled “The Characteristics and Potentialities of the Matogrossense
Pantanal” was published in 1973 presenting a diagnostic of the region considering the
most relevant aspects - delimitation, abiotic and biotic natural resources, infrastructure
and position of productive sectors. Recommendations have been also pointed out aiming
the development of the region. The recommendations included actions for the
improvement of transport system through the construction of nine roads, fluvial
transportation and railway. Electricity generation has been also considered as well as
agriculture and husbandry, industry, public health, and water supply (Silvestre Filho e
Romeu, 1973) (FIG. 4).
In 1974 the study “ Collector Road System for Matogrossense Pantanal “ was
conducted by GEIPOT (Brazilian Organisation for Planning and Transport) analysing
Pantanal economy related with or depending on transport system (Brasil, Seplan, IPEA,
1977).
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FIG. 3. Municipalities located within Pantanal and the main towns around.
.Cuiabá .Các
eres
.Rondonópois
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FIG. 4. Road infrastructure plan for Pantanal.
Source: Silvestre Filho e Romeu, 1974.
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In 1974 the PRODEPAN (Special Program for the Development of Pantanal)
was created by President Ernesto Geisel, aiming to integrate the Pantanal physically and
economically to other parts of the country and to use its potentialities. This program
certainly following the recommendations of Silvestre Filho e Romeu (1973)
concentrated its actions from 1974 to 1976 on transport, sanitation (water supply),
generation and transmission of electricity, agriculture research and technical assistance
as well as industry mainly for the regional products, beef and mining ores. This perhaps
was the most important development program implemented in this region so far
applying Cr$ 650 million (Brazilian currency at time).
Considerable achievements have been obtained by all of these actions mainly
opening of roads, improvement of railway and hydrovia, opening of drainage channels,
construction of electricity transmission lines and the creation of an agricultural research
unit which became later Embrapa Pantanal. The mission of this institution was in the
beginning to carry out research projects on management and technology generation for
cattle raising and later on encompassing natural resources, fauna and flora, fishing,
hydrology, environmental impact assessment and socioeconomy.
In 1977, PRODEPAN consisted of the presentation of a proposal to be
implemented ((Brasil, Seplan, IPEA, 1977; Mato Grosso, Secretaria de Agricultura,
1974).
In 1977 a co-operative agreement between the Brazilian government and UNDP
(United Nations Development Program) with support of OAS (Organisation of
American States) was firmed to implement the EDIBAP (Study for the Integrated
Development of Upper Paraguay Basin). There is a long list of objectives aimed by this
study. I am going to mention some, for example: a) inventory, organisation, evaluation
and compatibilisation of data, information, programs and projects; b) complete the
existing basic information about the regional economy and the natural resources,
establishing priorities to management; c) proposition of alternatives strategies for the
Basin development indicating projects based on perspective and prospective
analyses...j) proposition of measures to protect the environment and analyse the impact
of the proposed programs and projects in order to avoid possible ecological unbalance
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(Brasil, Sudeco, 1979). This study was completed in 1981 resulting in a number of
economic development proposals for the Pantanal region based on principles of
environmental conservation, ecological balance and the rational use of land (Anjos,
1999).
RECENT STUDIES AND ACTIONS
UPPER PARAGUAY RIVER BASIN CONSERVATION PLAN
The PCBAP (Upper Paraguay River Basin Conservation Plan) is the most
important study carried out recently in Pantanal region. “ It was conceived to discipline
the current and the potential economic development of the BAP (Upper Paraguay
Basin), providing general and specific guidelines and strategies for action, forming the
necessary technical basis to begin the territorial organisation process. The methodology
utilised for the development of this plan (Volume I) involved the Integrated Diagnostic,
the Environmental Zoning and the Utilisation and Occupation Prognostic based on
environmental conservation, rehabilitation and sustainable development. The
methodological focus determined that the integrated studies of a certain area, demand
both the understanding of the dynamics and functionality of the social relations existing
therein” (BRASIL. Ministério do Meio Ambiente, dos Recursos Hídricos e da
Amazônia Legal, 1997 a). The results of this Plan are published in 13 volumes
(BRASIL. Ministério do Meio Ambiente, dos Recursos Hídricos e da Amazônia Legal,
1997 a and b).
The studies have been carried out by many public research institutions with
knowledge in the specific thematic areas and involved in the region. “The Brazilian
Agricultural Research Corporation (EMBRAPA), through its Pantanal and Cerrado
Agricultural Research Centres and its National Soils Research Centre, was responsible
for the studies of the fauna, vegetation and soils. The Brazilian Geography and Statistics
Institute (IBGE), performed the geological studies, the University of Mato Grosso do
Sul, studied the social-economic relations in that state, and the State Secretariat for the
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Environment and sustainable Development of Mato Grosso do Sul studied the legal and
institutional aspects. The University of Mato Grosso, studied the social-economic and
legal-institutional aspects in Mato Grosso, and the geomorphology and climate for the
whole Basin. The Hydrosedimentology studies were in charge of the Hydraulic research
Institute (IPH) of the University of Rio Grande do Sul and the Geographical
Information System was developed by the Centre for Integrated Studies in
Geoprocessing of the University of Paraná”.
The studies encompassed the physical (geology, geomorphology, soil, climate),
biotic (vegetation and fauna), and social-economic and legal-institutional aspects of the
BAP. The data and information were organised in order to elaborate integrated
environmental units, which would allow the orientation of the land uses in the area in
harmony with environment conservation. The studies on biotic and abiotic resources
originated 34 Natural Environmental Units and the social-economic and legal-
institutional studies, 33 Social Economic Environmental Units, considering specific
units the indigenous areas and the existing Conservation Units. It was elaborated a
Fragilities and Environmental Impacts Chart representing the spatial location of the
existing problems relating to environmental impacts, floods and places of potential
fragility. “The main negative environmental impacts detected in the highlands were:
inadequate utilisation of soil, generating its compacting and erosion, poor quality of
waters, flooding valleys, recharge area contamination and several transgressions of the
legislation. The main negative environmental impacts detected in the Plain were: risks
to the aquatic environment created in the flood zones, causing urban problems and
diminution of areas destined to agriculture, contamination by mining and domestic
sewage, contamination of the sediment by residues of agro-chemicals and mercury and
increase of the organic charge in the floods”.
Crossing the information from the Natural Environmental Units, Social Economic
Environmental Units and Fragilities and Environmental Impacts Chart 44
Environmental Zoning Units (FIG. 5) were delimited and characterised (11 of them
within Pantanal) and defined general guidelines for the BAP and specific guidelines for
each Zoning Unit according to three basic premises: sustainable development,
preservation and environmental rehabilitation.
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“Given the general concerns of the plan in guiding development with
conservation and protection of the Pantanal, the diagnostics studies allowed the
identification of the main social-environmental problems, their spatial distribution and
the general action recommendations for each unit. Such problems are related directly or
indirectly to environmental matters, demanding intervention in short and medium terms
through a general action program. These problems can be subdivided according to three
action strategy types: 1) corrective and preventive actions with the objective of
protecting the natural and social-cultural environments of the Basin; 2) incentive actions
to economic activities compatible with sustainable utilisation of the natural resources
and fragility of natural ecosystems and cultural patters; and 3) actions of political-
institutional articulation in order to make possible the objectives of the project”
(BRASIL. Ministério do Meio Ambiente, dos Recursos Hídricos e da Amazônia Legal,
1997 a).
PANTANAL PROGRAM
The Brazilian government is in advanced negotiation with IDB ( Inter-American
Development Bank) of a US$ 400 million project, “Sustainable Development of
Pantanal” aiming to stabilise the environmental quality of Pantanal ecosystems. This
project includes five components: a) watershed management; b) urban development; c)
establishment and rehabilitation of parkways; d) promotion of sustainable development
activities; and e) institutional strengthening (Inter-American Development Bank ,
2,000). This project or program will be implemented by both States Mato Grosso and
Mato Grosso do Sul, is expected to initiate by next year including activities on water
resources administration, soil and pesticide management in critical sub-watersheds,
habitat, fish and fauna protection, urban sanitation, sustainable activities support and
action plan for indigenous areas.
The IDB summarise the project as following: “The watershed management
component would finance the preparation of a management plan, the establishment of a
watershed authority, the creation of an early flood-warning system, and development of
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a series of management activities in critical sub-watersheds, including solid
conservation practices, rationalisation of the use of agro-chemicals, restoration of
riparian vegetation, demonstrative restoration of a mining site, and diffusion of mining
techniques. In addition, that component would provide environmental and natural
resources education and training, with strong involvement of organised farmers, local
communities, and municipal authorities. The urban environment component would
finance expansion and improvements to the water supply and sewerage system of, as
well as solid waste collection/disposal and drainage works in selected cities. The
establishment and rehabilitation of parkways component would rehabilitate seven
existing roads, totalling 412 km, including retrofitting drainage culverts. The sustainable
economic activities promotion component would provide technical assistance do
farmers to make their enterprises more profitable, planning and support for ecotourism,
management activities for fishers, promotion of aquaculture, establishment of
environmentally protected areas, and rehabilitation of existing protected areas. The
institutional strengthening component would improve the financial sustainability of the
Secretariat of Environment, the Environmental Foundation, and the Secretariat of
Environmental and Sustainable Development through better fee collection for
environmental licensing, rights of use, and fines. This component would also strengthen
institutions responsible for public utilities, particularly in efforts to reduce physical and
commercial water losses and develop stage regulatory frameworks, promoting the
decentralisation of agencies, streamlining administrative functions, and identifying areas
where greater participation of the private sector would be appropriate” (Inter-American