Brazil's Pantanal Wetland Faces Threat from Proposed Waterway

Scientists warn that turning the Paraguay River into a commercial route could devastate the world's largest tropical wetland.

The Pantanal wetland spans 170,000 sq km across Brazil, Paraguay, and Bolivia, hosting diverse species and ecosystems.
Plans to develop the Paraguay River for industrial shipping involve extensive dredging, port construction, and river straightening.
Critics argue the project will destroy habitats, increase wildfire risks, and release stored carbon, exacerbating climate change.
Local communities and Indigenous groups fear the loss of their traditional livelihoods and the area's natural beauty.
Proponents claim the waterway will boost economic growth by reducing transportation costs for agricultural exports.