setembro, 30 2024

By WWF-Brazil

Fake news and messages spread daily on social media. And when it comes to the fires in the Pantanal it is no different. And you must be wondering: is it true that the biome burns itself? Are the fires in the region something natural and happen every year? To combat #fakenews, WWF-Brazil answers some of these questions, based on science and official data about the biome.

It is important to clarify that the Pantanal has been facing the driest period in the last four decades since 2019, a reflection of the climate emergency associated with deforestation in the headwaters of the rivers that flow through the biome. And since the beginning of this year, experts have been warning that there would be a severe drought, with a high probability of uncontrolled wildfires and water shortages. "The wildfires in the Pantanal are not only affecting biodiversity and the local population, but also the country and the world, which are losing the largest wetland on the planet. We are facing a critical situation and the areas burned are larger than those recorded in 2020," says Cyntia Santos, conservation analyst at WWF-Brazil.

Myths and truths

Are this year's wildfires part of the natural dynamics of the Pantanal?

No. The wildfires that are affecting the region this year are not related to the biome's natural processes. In the first half of this year, the Pantanal broke records for wildfires. Between January 1st and June 30, 3,538 fire outbreaks were detected, a number more than 20 times higher than that recorded in the same period last year (+2,018%), and is the highest number in the historical series of the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), which began in 1998. Official figures indicate that the current wildfires in the biome are completely outside the pattern of the biome's natural fire dynamics.

Fire is part of the Pantanal's dynamics, which has natural cycles of floods and droughts, when it occurs at the right time. With the use of appropriate and safe techniques, controlled fire management is combined with several natural processes, including breaking seed dormancy. This is not what we are seeing this year.

Are the wildfires in the Pantanal this year of criminal origin?

It is possible that some of the fires were caused by criminals, but the causes are under investigation and cannot yet be determined. This hypothesis is being investigated by police authorities based on information sent by environmental agencies, such as the Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) and the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio).

Does the dry climate favour the emergence of new fire outbreaks from working in the fields?

The climate conditions have produced a severe drought in the Pantanal, which favours the spread of fires, but not necessarily their onset. In other words, controlled burns for management, pasture or any other type of crop, often get out of control, turning into large-scale wildfires. Some of the fires are likely to be the result of accidental loss of control of the fire during management by local residents.

In addition to climate change, the wildfires in the Pantanal are also associated with human action in the Upper Paraguay River Basin. Deforestation where the headwaters of the rivers that supply the Pantanal Plain are located contributes to the extreme drought in the biome. All of these elements directly affect the rain cycle and the reduction of water in the territory, favouring the spread of fires in the Pantanal in 2024.

According to experts, the Pantanal is experiencing a severe drought, and the scarce and irregular rains in the first months of 2024 were insufficient to overflow the rivers and connect lagoons to the Paraguay River, the main river in the biome, which reached low levels for this time of year. This combination of factors has contributed to the increase in wildfires in the Pantanal.

Can the fire in the Pantanal reignite even 15 days after it has been fought?

Yes. This is the phenomenon that the people of the Pantanal call “underground fire” or “peat fire”. Peat is a type of organic material resulting from the decomposition of vegetation that accumulates in the soil, forming a layer of flammable material.

Is it true that 95% of wildfires are located in private areas?

Yes. According to satellite images taken by BDQueimadas Program, from the National Institute for Space Research (INPE), and by the Environmental Satellite Applications Laboratory of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro (LASA/UFRJ), around 95% of the wildfires in the Pantanal in 2024 originated on private properties, with a record of 3,372 fire outbreaks from January 1 to June 25, 2024. Only 189 of them were recorded on Indigenous Lands and Protected Areas. And almost no fires show signs of having been started by natural causes, such as lightning, which makes human action the main vector of fire.

Is the delay in putting an end to the wildfires in the Pantanal the fault of the Government, which did not act effectively?

No. The government has mobilised more than 830 federal agents, including firefighters and agents from the National Force and the Armed Forces. There are 15 federal government aircraft involved in firefighting operations: 4 planes and 3 helicopters from Ibama and ICMBio, and 2 planes and 6 helicopters from the Armed Forces.

In April, the Ministry of the Environment and Climate Change (MMA) declared a state of environmental emergency due to the risk of wildfires in specific regions, including the Pantanal, from May to December. In June, the government took strong action with: President Lula signing a pact with governors to combat fires in the Pantanal and the Amazon; the creation of a situation room to discuss drought and firefighting in the country, especially in the Pantanal and the Amazon; and the release of BRL 100 million (about US$ 18.3 million) for Ibama and ICMBio actions in the biome. In addition, the MMA set up two bases, one in Corumbá and another at kilometre 100 of the Transpantaneira Highway, to house teams, concentrate logistical actions and monitor and track fire outbreaks.

The government of the state of Mato Grosso do Sul has also recognised an emergency in municipalities affected by the wildfires in the region, which facilitates the release of resources and makes more flexible public contracts for the purchase of equipment, mobilisation of teams and other actions to combat the crisis.

However, it is important to remember that climate and weather conditions have brought forward the dry season this year, which is also expected to end later, creating a mismatch with the schedule of actions planned by the federal and state governments, which need to bring forward what was planned due to the early outbreak of the fire season.

About WWF-Brazil

WWF-Brazil is a Brazilian NGO that has been working collectively with partners from civil society, universities, governments and companies throughout the country for 28 years to combat socio-environmental degradation and defend the lives of people and nature. We are connected in an interdependent network that seeks urgent solutions to the climate emergency.