Pantanal - Definition and Overview

The Pantanal is a vast wetland area covering portions of Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia. With an area reaching up to 200,000 square kilometers in the rainy season, the Pantanal is the world's largest wetland. The principal source of incoming water is the Rio Paraguay. The dominant vegetation is grassland and savanna. The Pantanal is thus a key global example of the flooded grassland and savanna ecosystem.

The Pantanal has received little global attention compared to the Amazon. However, in addition to supplying fresh water and groundwater to neighboring areas, it is host to vast biodiversity. This includes over 650 species of birds and 250 species of fish. Portions of the Pantanal have been officially protected, such as Brazil's Pantanal Matogrossense national park. Nonetheless, the Pantanal remains threatened by pressures for development and drainage.

External link

• World Conference on Preservation and Sustainable Development in the Pantanal (http://www.pantanal.org/)
• Pressure on the Pantanal (http://monolith.com.au/pantanal/pantanal.html) article discussing development pressure on the Pantanal by Roderick Eime

Example Usage of Pantanal