novembro, 04 2014

"Pantanal: nature, conservation and culture" is the theme of the exhibition organized by WWF-Brasil’s Cerrado Pantanal Programme and dedicated to Pantanal Day which falls on 12th November. Held in partnership with the photographer Adriano Gambarini, the environmental organization staged this free event between the 6th and 9th November in the Parque das Nações Indígenas in Campo Grande (MS).

The exhibition boasted 20 photographs taken by Adriano Gambarini, a National Geographic Brasil photographer and author of 12 books, showing the Pantanal and its rich biodiversity and cattle ranching, the principal economic activity of the region.

According to Julio Cesar Sampaio, coordinator of the Cerrado Pantanal Programme, the exhibition's role was to show the public the importance of the biome and the conservation of its biodiversity. "The Pantanal is the Planet’s largest wetland. It is in fact an immense reservoir of fresh water which plays an essential role is the supply of fresh water, climate stabilization and soil conservation", he explains.

WWF offices in Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay, countries that share borders with the Pantanal, work are working together to conserve this region. "This team-work has promoted effective results for the conservation of the region, including the conservation and protection of aquatic ecosystems, the development of sustainable supply chains, systematic spatial planning and the development of responsible consumer habits", confirms Julio Cesar.

Adriano Gambarini's relationship with the Pantanal started in 1989 when he travelled on the legendary Pantanal Train. In 2011, he photographed the principal actions carried out by WWF-Brasil's Cerrado Pantanal Programme. "I made a selection that shows the simplicity of the Pantanal. Day-to-day life that begins with the intense sun at daybreak, the daily routine of the pantaneiros, the search for survival of the animals, the serene flight of the birds and the tranquillity of the jaguar. I want people to feel the sensation of being in a simple place and, because of this, unique beauty", he confirms.

His major challenge was to portray the real beauty of the Panatanal in a click. "It's been nearly 10 years since I first worked with WWF-Brasil. It's an honour to work with an institution which is internationally recognized for their work in nature conservation. My approach to photography has always been the same: to serve as a step to raising awareness over the urgent need to conserve the environment", he points out.

The Pantanal 

The Pantanal the largest wetland on the Planet and home to immense biodiversity. It has an area of approximately 624,320 square kilometres: around 62% in Brazil in the States of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul; 20% in Bolivia; and 18% in Paraguay. Due to its environmental importance, it was declared National Heritage by the Brazilian Constitution of 1988, and nominated as a World Heritage Site and Biosphere Reserve by the United Nations in 2000.

Over 4,700 species have been registered in the biome, of which 3,500 are plants (trees and aquatic and terrestrial plants), 325 fish, 53 amphibians, 98 reptiles, 656 birds, and 159 mammals.

WWF-Brasil in the Pantanal

WWF-Brasil has been supporting conservation projects in the region over the last 16 years. Work includes research on the impacts of land use and climate change, the calculation of ecological footprints and monitoring of vegetation cover. The organisation also helps to conserve springs and degraded areas, and promotes sustainable beef production through the adoption of best practices to strengthen certified organic beef production. Find out more. 

Adriano Gambarini

Professional photographer since 1992, author of 12 photography books and two books of poetry, Adriano Gambarini is a National Geographic photographer. He documents environmental expeditions in remote regions of the Amazon and registers other biomes for wildlife research projects. He has over 20 years of professional experience photographing landscapes, animals, plants, mountains and seas. Today he possesses one of the most diverse photographic archives in the country, with more than 170,000 photographs of ecosystems, caves, wildlife, and ways of life and culture of different ethnic groups. He graduated in geology at the University of São Paulo and specialized in speleology. He presides over meetings and gives lectures on photography and conservation and is a columnist for the O ECO Environmental Agency.