The Pantanal: Paradise in Danger

The Pantanal, "wetlands" in Portuguese, is an enormous and unique wetlands ecosystem located in central South America. It s made up of 10 different wetland ecosystems and has the greatest species richness in the Americas. Despite, or perhaps because of this, the Pantanal today is threatened by industrialization and large-scale economic activities that also threaten the livelihoods of its native population. Preliminary efforts to protect the region by the Brazilian government and outside interests are beginning to effect a change.