The Mato Grosso Pantanal is located in southwest Mato Grosso and western Mato Grosso do Sul (Brazil), also found in Paraguay and Bolivia. One of the largest floodplain in the world, accounting for 2% of the Brazilian territory. In 2001 it was recognized by UNESCO (UNESCO) as a natural heritage of humanity.
The Pantanal is a transition area between the Amazon, Cerrado and Chaco. This mosaic of ecosystems merges regions of savanna and rainforest, in addition to water and semiaquáticas areas. During the rainy season (October to April), the level of the rivers Paraguay basin rises and floods the plain, covering up to two thirds of the Pantanal area. This fact occurs due to the low slope of the land, which on average has 100 meters of altitude. At the end of the rainy season (from June to September), the waters go down slowly and return to their natural course.
The biome has a rich hydrography - about 180 rivers throughout its territorial extension. The vegetation is very complex, diversifying as three types of areas: flooded (predominantly grass); the predominantly flooded (underbrush, shrubs and palm trees like buriti and carandá); those who did not suffer flood (cerrado areas). There are over 3,500 species of plants in the Pantanal, and can be found hygrophilous species (in the areas flooded by the river) and xerophilous (in the high and dry areas).
The fauna is rich and well diversified - the biome harbors the largest number of birds from around the continent (650 different species); 262 species of fish, 1,100 species of butterflies, 80 species of mammals and 50 reptiles. Among the various animals of the Pantanal, we can mention the alligator, deer, snakes, capybaras, Ararauna, parrot, toucan, Jabiru, shoveler, jaguar, monkey, etc.
Livestock farming is the main economic activity practiced in the Pantanal, being developed in large estates since the eighteenth century. However, in the last 20 years, the region is threatened by agricultural expansion and the growth of cities. Erosion problems are caused by agriculture, and the heavy use of pesticides is polluting surface and groundwater.
However, in the last 20 years this natural biological wealth has been increasingly threatened by agricultural and urban expansion.
Due to erosion caused by agriculture and disordered urban occupation, especially in areas that should legally be preserved, we now have a degrading picture of pollution reaching the springs and jeopardizing the existence of animals and plants. And soil contamination by the use of pesticides used in agriculture.
Another important issue regarding the maintenance of this biome, it is the construction of waterways. These fluvial transport routes, severely criticized by environmentalists and also by some NGOs, show the environmental impacts caused by the clearing of riparian vegetation and silting of rivers, affecting the lake and terrestrial fauna.
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