Numerous forest fires in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands
With the extreme drought and heat in Brazil, the number of forest fires in the Pantanal, one of the largest inland wetlands in the world, has also increased dramatically. In November alone, just over 4,000 outbreaks of fire have been recorded, according to the Brazilian space institute Inpe. This means that the number of fires is already nine times higher than the November average of the last 25 years.
The wetland, which extends from Brazil to the neighboring countries of Bolivia and Paraguay, consists of an intricate system of rivers and lakes and is a unique natural and tourist paradise. It is unusual that there are still so many fires in the region in November, as the area is normally flooded by rainfall during that month.
However, according to the Ministry of the Environment, the rainy season is late this year due to the severe drought in the biome. The drought is also exacerbated by the El Niño weather phenomenon, which occurs every few years, and climate change. Other areas of Brazil, such as the Amazon, are also currently experiencing the worst drought in over a century.
"Floods, droughts and even fires are part of the natural dynamics of the Pantanal," said Roberto Maldonado from the environmental organization WWF. "But in recent years we have been experiencing increasingly extreme droughts and mammoth fires that are completely out of control and threaten to destroy the sensitive ecosystem."
The Pantanal is one of the most biodiverse areas on the planet and is home to rare species. Jaguars, tapirs and hyacinth macaws live there. Cattle farming is the main economic activity in the area. Farmers traditionally burn forest areas to create new grazing land. If these fires get out of control, huge wildfires can occur.
The rising number of uncontrolled fires in the Pantanal is causing significant concern for environmental scientists, as they threaten to devastate the fragile ecosystem and the diverse species that call it home. The severe drought and climate change, coupled with the El Niño weather phenomenon, have contributed to this environmental crisis, drastically increasing the frequency of fires in this critical wetland.
Source: www.dpa.com
