Pantanal: minister attributes fires to human activity

The Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, warned on Monday (Jun. 24) that the current fires in the Pantanal are aggravated by both climatic extremes and criminal actions.

"We are facing one of the worst situations ever seen in the Pantanal. The entire Paraguay basin is experiencing severe water shortages," she stated.

Following a meeting with representatives from other ministries in the Pantanal crisis situation room at the Planalto presidential palace, the minister explained that the dry season in the region has resulted in a “large amount of combustible organic matter.” This has led to fires that are unprecedented compared to anything previously recorded.

According to Silva, the Ministry of the Environment has been planning actions to anticipate the consequences of the fires since October last year. "For the first time, there is a plan to address fires in the Pantanal. We base public policy on evidence. We already knew this year would be severe," said Marina Silva.

In response, she noted that the Ministry of the Environment had declared an emergency due to the fires and initiated the hiring of firefighters. Currently, over 200 firefighters are battling the blaze, with another 100 on standby.

"New normal"

Marina Silva stated that the region's drought signals a "new normal," marking the worst drought in 70 years. "We are witnessing the intensification of a climate problem similar to the heavy rains in Rio Grande do Sul. We anticipated severe droughts affecting the Amazon and Pantanal. During this period, there are no fires caused by lightning; what we're seeing is the result of human activity," she lamented.

The minister explained that over 80 percent of the fires are located within private properties. "We have a responsibility for the federal conservation units, but at the moment we are addressing 20 specific fires," she added.

The region's drought signals a "new normal," marking the worst drought in 70 years. - Joédson Alves/Agência Brasil

Minister of Planning Simone Tebet, who participated in the meeting on the Pantanal crisis, emphasized the importance of the Mato Grosso do Sul government declaring an environmental emergency. "This enables the allocation of extraordinary funds. There will be no shortage of resources or budget to address the situation. However, there is no budget in the world, including Brazil's, that can solve the issue of public awareness," she remarked.

Ban on the use of fire

Marina Silva announced a pact with the governments of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, where the Pantanal is located, as well as with the governors of Amazon states, to "completely ban [pasture] burning by the year's end. Those who use fire to clear pastures or for any other purpose will be committing a crime," she warned.

The minister also highlighted that municipalities with the highest deforestation rates have been hardest hit by fires, citing Corumbá in Mato Grosso do Sul as an example. "It's the municipality with the highest deforestation rate. It's no coincidence that it's also experiencing the most fires," she pointed out.