Pantanal records largest area burned in June 2024

In June 2024, the Pantanal experienced the largest average area burned since 2012 in the states of Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, according to data from the Environmental Satellite Applications Laboratory of the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro's Meteorology Department. Over a span of just 30 days, fires consumed over 411,000 hectares of this biome, far surpassing the usual average of slightly over 8,000 hectares for the period.

As of June 2, 2024, the affected area had expanded to 712,075 hectares, equivalent to 4.72 percent of the entire Pantanal biome.

On Monday (1), the federal government's crisis response room, led by Minister Marina Silva of the Environment and Climate Change, convened for the third time. Minister Silva attributed the crisis to a convergence of human activities, citing deliberate fire outbreaks and deforested areas that facilitate fire spread. She also mentioned that the Federal Police are investigating the origins of at least 18 fire hotspots.