Brazil

Pantanal

WHS Score 3.72
rate
Votes 20 Average 4.25
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Votes for Pantanal

3.0

  • Joaofg
  • Ralf Regele

3.5

  • Alberto Rodriguez Gutierrez
  • Solivagant
  • Xiquinho Silva

4.0

  • Ammon Watkins
  • Els Slots
  • Terror
  • Thomas van der Walt
  • Zoë Sheng

4.5

  • cumulus
  • ellenmck
  • Monica Tasciotti

5.0

  • David Aaronson
  • Dgjohansson
  • João Aender
  • Lameduck99
  • Richard Stone
  • Rvieira
  • Waxwing

The Pantanal Conservation Area is a freshwater wetland ecosystem that seasonally floods.

In the rainy season, the rivers overspill and animals congregate at the remaining patches of dry land. The largest mammals migrate from the plain to the higher regions of the Amolar Mountain chain. Wildlife here includes a healthy jaguar population, plus marsh deer, giant anteater, capybara, and giant otter. Also, 650 species of birds have been recorded here.

Community Perspective: Be aware that the designated area covers only a small part of the wider region called Pantanal. It consists of Pantanal Matogrossense National Park, Dorochê Private Reserve, Acurizal Private Reserve, and Penha Private Reserve. We are looking forward to a more recent (>2004) and precise review, although the region’s flagship species such as tapir, giant otter, capybara and even jaguar can easily be seen in the tourist areas outside the core zone.

Site Info

Official Information
Full Name
Pantanal Conservation Area (ID: 999)
Country
Brazil
Status
Inscribed 2000 Site history
History of Pantanal
2000: Inscribed
Inscribed
WHS Type
Natural
Criteria
  • vii
  • ix
  • x
Links
UNESCO
whc.unesco.org
All Links
UNESCO.org
Related Resources
News Article
  • Aug. 13, 2024 theguardian.com — Pantanal waterway project would destroy a ‘paradise on Earth’, scientists warn
  • Sept. 19, 2020 bbc.com — Forest fires devastate Brazil's Pantanal tropical wetlands
  • Nov. 8, 2019 time.com — Fires Are Ravaging Brazil's Pantanal

Community Information

  • Community Category
  • Natural landscape: Rivers, Wetlands and Lakes
Travel Information
No travel information
Recent Connections
View all (22) .
Connections of Pantanal
Geography
Trivia
Ecology
  • Otters
    Giant Otter
  • Tapirs
    Brazilian tapir
  • Strict Nature Reserve
    Partly: Dorochê, Acuziral, Penha Private Natural Heritage Reserves. ""As to Private Reserves, Instituto Homem Pataneiro promotes visits to conservation units in the Amolar Mountains and one accommodation facility for visitors is located in PRNH Acurizal, in which the only permitted activities are research, environmental education and ecotourism." (IUCN Outlook)
  • Sloths
    brown-throated sloth
  • Anteaters
    giant anteater
  • Bird Migrations
    The Americas Flyway
  • Jaguar habitat
  • Oxbow lakes
    See link page 4 table 1 for examples actually inside the inscribed areas e.g "Acurizal Preserve - Oxbow lake (shallow)"

    See www.scielo.br

  • Swamps and Marshes
    "Typical of swamps, near the rivers and on waterlogged patches of earth, are clumps of acurí palm trees, forming the palm-tree groves and palm woodlands for which the region is famous" (AB ev)
Damaged
  • Affected by Climate Change
    Climate change is also associated with increasing frequency and severity of fires, as was exemplified by some sites which have faced unprecedented fires in 2019-2020, such as Pantanal Conservation Area (Brazil). (IUCN Outlook 2020)

    See www.nature.com

World Heritage Process
WHS on Other Lists
Timeline
  • Cretaceous
    No Final do Cretáceo, esforços tensionais relacionados ao soerguimento em blocos da plataforma brasileira relacionado à orogênese Andina, promoveu um processo de desestabilização tectônica, acontecendo os dobramentos e falhamentos.

    See seer.ufms.br

Visiting conditions
WHS Names
  • Misleading WHS Names
    This site covers much less than the region that is known as the Pantanal in Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay (only 1.3% of Brazil's Pantanal!). Four adjacent nature reserves/parks that are seen as representative of the whole have been chosen. Although 'Conservation Zone' in the full name is an indicator of limitations, a more precise name like 'Pantanal Matogrossense National Park and adjoining reserves' would be welcome.
News
theguardian.com 08/13/2024
Pantanal waterway project would de…
bbc.com 09/19/2020
Forest fires devastate Brazil's Pa…
time.com 11/08/2019
Fires Are Ravaging Brazil's Pantan…

Community Reviews

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First published: 01/05/05.

Solivagant

Pantanal

Pantanal (Inscribed)

Pantanal by Solivagant

The Pantonal is an enormous area of flat lands in the basin of the river Paraguay in Western Brazil. Within it areas have been designated as a National Park or Strict Reserves. From Oct to Mar it is flooded and inaccessible to ordinary tourists. At other times it provides a good opportunity of seeing a number of the typically S American animals/birds in what are probably easier viewing conditions than Amazonian forest. It is also quite a relaxing place to visit with a number of Fazendas or ranches offering accommodation for a chill-out stay accompanied by non-vigorous walks or horse rides. You can easily arrange stays at these and transport in/out using local agents in nearby cities.

Since it covers such a large area and transport around/across the region is limited you really have to decide which part to aim for. If you are crossing to Brazil from Peru/Bolivia then you will probably settle for the southern section. If however you are “coming in” from the east and continuing elsewhere in Brazil then you have the choice of 2 main entry points – the cities of Campo Grande or Cuiaba. We chose Cuiaba, and I suspect that this is the more popular. Whether it is the better I cannot say. I can say however that we were satisfied with what we saw in 3 days and in the ease of arranging something quickly on arrival and in getting out (Ciuaba has very good transport connections, particularly by air). Cuiaba …

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First published: 15/10/04.

Els Slots

Pantanal

Pantanal (Inscribed)

Pantanal by Els Slots

I visited the Pantanal on a 4-day tour from Cuiabá. Not to the protected zone, but to another nice part where there are lots of animals. The tour included all the local fun, like walking, horse-riding, bird spotting and piranha fishing.

Although at the end of October, it was still very dry in this area. Fortunately, because of that, there were not many mosquitos. The wildlife was still abundant though. We saw a tapir, otters, capybara's and alligators.

I think a bird spotter will find real joy in the Pantanal. In almost every tree you can see a wonderful example of the local birds here. To the more common visitor (like I am), the Tuiuiu (a 1.40 m. high creature) is amazing to watch.

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