Eine Plattform für die Wissenschaft: Bauingenieurwesen, Architektur und Urbanistik
Eine Plattform für die Wissenschaft: Bauingenieurwesen, Architektur und Urbanistik
The ineffectiveness of current environmental and fire policies in the world’s largest wetland
The Upper Paraguay Basin (UPRB) covers 361 338 km ^2 in Brazil and can be divided into the Planalto (plateau) and the Pantanal, the largest wetland in the world. This area faces pressures from climate change, land use and cover change (LULC), and infrastructure. Therefore, this study evaluates the effectiveness of current environmental policies on native vegetation conservation, water availability, and fire dynamics in the UPRB under current legislation in the state of Mato Grosso (MT). We used LULC data from 1985–2022 to estimate changes in water, native vegetation, exotic grasslands, and areas that could be converted to exotic grasslands for cattle ranching under state Decree N°.774/2024. We analyzed water coverage trends, including riparian preservation areas (RPAs) protected by federal law N°.12651/2012. Evapotranspiration comparisons were made between regions with and without artificial drainage. We also investigated trends in burned areas and the effectiveness of fire ban decrees. Our results indicate a significant increase in exotic grasslands across the entire UPRB portion of MT. We also found a significant decrease in water cover in the Pantanal, accompanied by an increase in native grass cover. Exotic grasslands can cover an area similar to native vegetation due to the new decree (774/2024), which includes 21 000 km ^2 of legal reserves (sustainable use areas) now available for grazing. The Pantanal has lost more than 8000 km ^2 of water over the past 37 yrs, with similar decreasing trend in water cover found within RPAs. Areas with artificial drainage showed lower evapotranspiration. Fire ban decrees were ineffective in reducing burned areas to expected levels. Current policies are insufficient to protect the interconnected ecosystems across the UPRB. Immediate measures, including adaptive management, strengthened legislation, and sustainable land and fire management practices, are essential to mitigate environmental impacts in the UPRB and safeguard its ecological and economic integrity.
The ineffectiveness of current environmental and fire policies in the world’s largest wetland
The Upper Paraguay Basin (UPRB) covers 361 338 km ^2 in Brazil and can be divided into the Planalto (plateau) and the Pantanal, the largest wetland in the world. This area faces pressures from climate change, land use and cover change (LULC), and infrastructure. Therefore, this study evaluates the effectiveness of current environmental policies on native vegetation conservation, water availability, and fire dynamics in the UPRB under current legislation in the state of Mato Grosso (MT). We used LULC data from 1985–2022 to estimate changes in water, native vegetation, exotic grasslands, and areas that could be converted to exotic grasslands for cattle ranching under state Decree N°.774/2024. We analyzed water coverage trends, including riparian preservation areas (RPAs) protected by federal law N°.12651/2012. Evapotranspiration comparisons were made between regions with and without artificial drainage. We also investigated trends in burned areas and the effectiveness of fire ban decrees. Our results indicate a significant increase in exotic grasslands across the entire UPRB portion of MT. We also found a significant decrease in water cover in the Pantanal, accompanied by an increase in native grass cover. Exotic grasslands can cover an area similar to native vegetation due to the new decree (774/2024), which includes 21 000 km ^2 of legal reserves (sustainable use areas) now available for grazing. The Pantanal has lost more than 8000 km ^2 of water over the past 37 yrs, with similar decreasing trend in water cover found within RPAs. Areas with artificial drainage showed lower evapotranspiration. Fire ban decrees were ineffective in reducing burned areas to expected levels. Current policies are insufficient to protect the interconnected ecosystems across the UPRB. Immediate measures, including adaptive management, strengthened legislation, and sustainable land and fire management practices, are essential to mitigate environmental impacts in the UPRB and safeguard its ecological and economic integrity.
The ineffectiveness of current environmental and fire policies in the world’s largest wetland
Lucas Barros-Rosa (Autor:in) / Luiza Moura Peluso (Autor:in) / Priscila Lemes (Autor:in) / Mark Stephen Johnson (Autor:in) / Higo José Dalmagro (Autor:in) / Cátia Nunes da Cunha (Autor:in) / Paulo Henrique Zanella de Arruda (Autor:in) / Lúcia Mateus (Autor:in) / Jerry Penha (Autor:in)
2025
Aufsatz (Zeitschrift)
Elektronische Ressource
Unbekannt
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