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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.

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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

Development Bank , 2,000).

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FIG. 5. Environmental zoning of Upper Paraguay Basin (Source: PCBAP, 1997)

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POLITICAL GUIDELINES FOR THE PRESERVATION OF CERRADO AND

PANTANAL BIOMES

In 1999, the Ministry of the Environment published a document indicating

priority actions for the conservation of Cerrado and Pantanal biodiversity (Brasil,

Ministério do Meio Ambiente, 1999). This document recommends 87 priority areas in

both biomes, eight of them within Pantanal. The recommendations consider the topics:

focus changes, ecological corridors and regional protection, political articulation and

governmental institutions, legislation, conservation units consolidation, and inventory,

monitoring and research on biodiversity.

This year, the Ministry of the Environment has constituted a working group to

study and indicate strategic political guidelines for the preservation of Cerrado and

Pantanal biomes in order to implement the conservation plan existing and guide the

development actions in these two large regions. It is a big group formed by over 50

persons and the job has to be finished before the end of current year. The group has

defined the dimensions, themes and guidelines, and it is discussing the goals, the actors

and mechanisms of implementation. The dimensions are social-cultural, with the themes

territorial occupation, urbanisation and metropolisation, poverty and life quality,

ethnical-cultural diversity and traditional populations and environmental education and

communication; economic, with the themes agricultural frontier expansion, mining

exploitation, ecological business and sustainable tourism and infra-structure;

environmental, with the themes soil management and conservation, water resources, air

pollution and climatic changes and conservation, research and management of

biodiversity; scientific-technological, dealing with scientific-technological research and

development; and political-institutional, with institutional strengthening and shared

management. About seventy goals related to the guidelines are in discussion at this

moment.

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PROJECT FOR CO-PARTICIPATIVE MANAGEMENT OF THE PANTANAL

In July , 1999 a project was submitted by the National Science Academy of

Bolivia to OAS (Organisation of the American States) with the objective of contributing

to generate a common view for the preservation and sustainable development of the

Pantanal with expected results of a proposal for the shared management of Pantanal by

Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay; a proposal of an international treat, and creation of

databases on Pantanal information. This project did not get success to be approved by

OAS but it brings a very interesting idea and would deserve more attention.

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH ACTIONS IN PANTANAL

It is very difficult to get all the information and report the research actions that

have been carried out in Pantanal. There are many public and private institutions,

universities, and research institutes, from different parts of Brazil and from other

countries working and doing research in Pantanal. More recently a number of NGOs

focus their actions on Pantanal. The UFMS (Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul)

has a field station in the Pantanal, UNIDERP (University for the Development of the

State and of Pantanal Region) and UCDB (Dom Bosco Catholic University) also have

projects in Pantanal. EMBRAPA established since 1975 a research centre specific for

Pantanal, CPAP (Agriculture Research Centre for Pantanal). UFMT (Federal University

of Mato Grosso) has conducted studies on Pantanal, perhaps the most important is the

SHIFT Program in co-operation with the Technical Co-operative Agency of the German

government.

Universities, Foundations, Research Institutes and NGOS that work in the

Pantanal on different fields of knowledge have generated many results. Some events

have marked the actions of research institutions in the Pantanal because they aggregate

some of the knowledge existing. The First Symposium on Natural and Social-Economic

Resources of the Pantanal was held at Corumbá from November, 28th to December, 4th,

1984, when about twenty papers were presented (Embrapa, 1986). A Meeting on

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Remote Sensing Applied to Studies in Pantanal organised by Embrapa Pantanal and

INPE (National Space Research Institute) held at Corumbá, in October, 9th to 12th, 1995,

when fifty papers were presented (Pesquisa Agropecuária Brasileira, 1998). The Second

Symposium on Natural and Social-Economic Resources of the Pantanal also held at

Corumbá on November, 18th to 22nd, 1996 with the presentation of over one hundred

papers (Embrapa Pantanal, 1999). In 1999 the World Conference on Preservation and

Sustainable Development in the Pantanal organised two meetings at Washington, USA,

to discuss matters related to Pantanal use and conservation. This year will be held at

Corumbá two important meetings, Pantanal 2000 - International Meeting of Technical-

Scientific Integration for the Sustainable Development of Cerrado and Pantanal

organised by UCDB, and the Third Symposium on Natural and Social-Economic

Resources of the Pantanal organised by Embrapa Pantanal.

Recently, the Ministry of the Environment supported a program (PCBAP

mentioned above) that was carried out by several institutions: two federal universities of

Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul States, the State Secretaries of the Environment,

Embrapa Pantanal and the Institute for Hydraulic Research of Federal University of Rio

Grande do Sul State. This study put together information on geology, geomorphology,

soil, hydrology, climate, vegetation, fauna and socio-economic aspects of the Pantanal

resulting in a Plan for the Conservation of Upper Paraguay Basin. Ecological zoning

was delineated for the region indicating areas adequate to specified uses. This Plan must

be implemented and detailed for every ecological zone in the Brazilian Pantanal.

It is possible to identify researches being conducted on ecology and use of flora,

ecological bases for the sustainable management of humid tropical ecosystems,

ecological studies for the conservation and technologies for use of fauna, management

of fish resources, conservation of genetic resources, management of beef cattle on

native pastures, environmental impact assessment and so on.

I would like to point out that much has been done but much more is yet to be

done. If we count the researchers working on this region, there are perhaps not more

than two hundred. That is insignificant to face the research demands and for such and

extensive region, and regional, I might add, with such challenges as a lack of roads,

communication, and an adequate infrastructure. There is necessity for more people,

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trained people, able to conduct research in several branches of science. It is necessary at

least to double the number of people actively involved with research in the Pantanal.

People from other countries are welcome.

However people alone do not solve the problem. There is the necessity of

financial resources, laboratory equipment, vehicles, and materials in general. There is

the need to make a great effort to improve partnership and implement an integrate

research plan in order to develop the Pantanal in a sustainable way.

So there are research actions being conducted but there are many more to be

implemented, depending upon the political decision and will to understand and execute

a co-operative plan. We do not need individuals or organisations to purchase extensions

of areas under the belief that they are actually saving the Pantanal. No, that is absolutely

not necessary. The Pantanal does not need saviours because the Pantanal has been saved

by Pantaneiros for centuries and they know how to do that better than anybody else.

What is necessary and urgent is to save Pantaneiro man who does not have school,

transport, electricity, roads, health service; who has missed his land covered by water;

who has almost lost his dignity under the power of globalisation competition. Yes that

man asks for help and I am sure that we can do and that we must do very much for him.

RESEARCH DEMANDS FOR THE SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT OF

PANTANAL

The first discussions and studies for the development of Pantanal considered only

the economic and social development looking for integrating economically this region

to other parts of the country. The dominant ideas were construction of roads, dikes,

polder, electricity transmission lines, etc. Nowadays it is very clear that the

environmental issues are absolute necessary and must be considered in any project.

The globalisation of the economy and the increasing preoccupation with

environmental conservation affecting the Pantanal economy presents new demands for

research in this region. The great challenge is to achieve sustainable development so the

research has the responsibility of generating or adapting knowledge and technology for

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increase productivity and incomes and at the same time conserving habitats, flora and

fauna.

Many institutions have conducted researches on biology, ecology, survey and

identification of flora and fauna, mapping of natural resources, soil classification,

geology, geomorphology, hydrology, lymnology, climatology and so on. Substantial

results have been produced despite being dispersed.

Embrapa Pantanal carried out recently a study to identify research demands

(Embrapa Pantanal, 2000) for the environment, and for actual and potential production

systems. The results are as follows.

ENVIRONMENTAL DEMANDS

The main objective of research in the Pantanal is to conserve the environment.

Therefore, environmental questions are always present at any study. The identified

demands are:

• Monitoring river siltation and contamination;

• Evaluating and/or studying environmental impacts caused by agricultural

projects in the plateau and promoted by ecotourism, hydrovia, roads, gas pipe line,

dikes and deforestation in the plain;

• Evaluating aquatic system contamination by agrochemicals, heavy metals and

mining residues;

• Mapping and zoning for environmental purposes in small watershed and

municipality scales; and

• Characterising and monitoring lymnological parameter behaviour in order to

implement the sustainable management of those ecosystems.

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CATTLE RANCHING DEMANDS

Cattle ranching will persist maybe for long time as the main economic activity

unless tourism expands very quickly. At any rate, it will continue to be a very important

economic activity in the Pantanal. The demands related to beef cattle production

indicate the necessity of research on:

• Native pasture management and nutritional management of the herd;

• Reproductive management of cattle and horse maybe with the introduction of

new races; and

• Sanitary management for strategic control of reproductive diseases.

FISHING RESOURCE DEMANDS

Sport and professional fishing has exploited this resource, but to improve its

conservation and sustainability research is necessary on:

• Fish stock evaluation (mainly those of economic value);

• Generating information to subsidise fishing legislation;

• Biological and ecological studies of fishes with economic importance;

• Technology for aquaculture of native species;

• Structure and functioning of aquatic ecosystems;

• Technology development for industrial processing of fishes like piranhas

(Pygocentrus nattereri and Serrasalmus marginatus) and curimbata (Prochilodus

lineatus); and

• Identification, mapping and quantification of waterlogged areas relating to fish

production.

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TOURISM DEMANDS

Tourism has been practiced in the Pantanal and has increased over the last ten

years. Initially it was based on sport fishing but there is a clear tendency to change to

ecotourism, rural tourism, and other touristic attractions. Those actions to be

implemented under conservative principles need research support on:

• Evaluation of natural resource carrying capacity for actual and potential tourism

users;

• Inventory and zoning of natural resources of touristic interest;

• Information on biology and ecology of touristic interest species (plant and

animal); and

• Determining the economic value of the great vertebrates.

FLORA DEMANDS

Cattle ranching, fishing and tourism can be considered the traditional systems

carried out in the Pantanal, but flora and fauna offer alternatives to produce a new

production system, perhaps involving domestication, genetic improvement, cultivation

technology and processing.

Floristic resources of the Pantanal have been studied in a descriptive way rather

than in a productive way. The demands are for researches on:

• Generating technology for vegetal origin product processing;

• Developing ecological and economic studies related to apiculture;

• Studying the distribution, structure and productivity of the main types of

vegetation;

• Evaluating floristic potential for recovery of degraded areas;

• Studying the potential use of timber species;

• Developing ecological studies of vegetal splecies for economic purposes;

• Evaluating plants with medicinal value;

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• Supporting studies on genetic resources;

• Developing techniques for propagation, cultivation and management of plants

with economic potential; and

• Evaluating fructiferous plants concerning nutritional value and cultivation

possibilities.

FAUNA DEMANDS

The Pantanal supports a great diversity and abundance of wildlife. Some species of

mammals, birds and reptiles present a high potential for economic use. Caiman and

capybara, for example, are good examples of high-density animals, without any risk of

extinction if managed according to the knowledge available. Unfortunately, Brazilian

laws are very restrictive and it is not allowed to trade any animal product involving

wildlife; there is also an international commercial barrier for Brazilian products even

from breeding farms.

The research demands for fauna are:

• Developing studies to value the fauna and ecologically important ecosystems

like nesting and feeding places of birds and fishes;

• Supporting studies for conservation of species in risk of extinction;

• Developing breeding and management systems of native animals;

• Developing biological, ecological and zootechnical studies on native animals

with economic potential;

• Developing the inventory of native fauna;

• Studying the processing of native animal products;

• Studying the dynamics of wildlife in areas with and without the presence of

cattle;

• Generating and publishing scientific information aiming to subsidise legislation;

• Continuing the aerial monitoring of great vertebrate populations.

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SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Many people think that the sustainable development is impossible. I do not think

so. Perhaps it is a bit utopian but utopia (any idealised place, state or situation of

perfection) is possible to be achieved depending on our determination. The Pantanal

offers many alternatives. There is a great potential for tourism, for sustainable

management of floristic and faunistic resources, especially fish resources. There is the

potential to increase the productivity of the cattle production system and to get special

price for meat produced in this region because of its low cholesterol content. There are

several ways of improving living conditions. Thousands of caiman and capybara skins

could be sold if the laws and the international market were not so restrictive. That would

mean thousands of American dollars and creation of hundreds of jobs. Most important is

that there is technology for the sustainable management of those populations.

The sustainable development can be reached but it is necessary that everyone

understand its philosophy. Basic knowledge and technology must be generated to

implement this idea in all branches of economic activities.

CONCLUSION

During the last thirty years the Brazilian government has implemented studies and

development projects to integrate economically the Pantanal to the rest of the country

but in the last ten years those studies and projects have included the idea of conservation

and sustainable development.

Pantaneiros have conserved the Pantanal for more than two centuries and they

wish to maintain the beauty, biodiversity and exuberance of this region as it has been

maintained so far. Urgent and practical actions must be implemented in Planalto areas

surrounding Pantanal to stop erosion processes and, in consequence, siltation and

sedimentation of Pantanal aquatic systems. Environmental impact studies have to be

carried out previously any project to be implemented. Ecological tourism and other

types of tourism must be improved with professional trained people.

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Researchers, students, NGO people are welcome to work with us in an integrated

project aiming at the real sustainable development of the Pantaneiro people. It is time to

stop oba, and earn money using the Pantanal image. It is time to do something serious

and concrete for Pantanal ecosystems and for Pantaneiro people. I hope that IDB

Pantanal Program and Federal and States governments as well as private initiatives can

implement real actions for the development and conservation of this magnific region.

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