IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

Pantanal Conservation Area

2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

SITE INFORMATION Country: Brazil Inscribed in: 2000 Criteria: (vii) (ix) (x)

The Pantanal Conservation Area consists of a cluster of four protected areas with a total area of 187,818 ha. Located in western central Brazil at the south-west corner of the State of Mato Grosso, the site represents 1.3% of Brazil's Pantanal region, one of the world's largest freshwater wetland ecosystems. The headwaters of the region's two major river systems, the Cuiabá and the Paraguay rivers, are located here, and the abundance and diversity of its vegetation and animal life are spectacular. © UNESCO

SUMMARY

2020 Conservation Outlook Finalised on 02 Dec 2020

SIGNIFICANT CONCERN

The state and trend of World Heritage values is of concern; however, the values have been deteriorating not because of the current conservation conditions in the site, but rather due to the multiple threats that spread over this intricate territory from afar. In general, the outstanding beauty of the landscape has remained well preserved over time, but values ​​associated with high biodiversity and ecological and hydrological processes are likely to be affected in the medium and long term. Even though the World Heritage site itself is not directly subject of all the threats facing the broader Pantanal region, the individual and cumulative threats from land use changes, alterations of flow regimes and the wetland hydro-ecology, contamination, increasing of natural and anthropogenic fires, and invasive alien species give rise to concerns that could escalate further with time. There is some concern related to the protection and management of the site. While there are improvements in some aspects, there remain great challenges in relation to effectiveness of the management system, law enforcement and sustainable finance, the latter being critical for achieving a better protection and management of the site. Furthermore, there is significant concern regarding effectiveness of protection and management in addressing threats outside the site, as long as major threats are largely beyond the scope and mandate of site management and even the Brazilian federal protected area agency ICMBio. Significant additional conservation measures are needed to maintain values, hence the relevance of strengthening and implementing initiatives of integration at landscape level, involving different sectors and actors. IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

FULL ASSESSMENT

Description of values

Values

World Heritage values

▶ Outstanding landscape beauty Criterion:(vii)

The Pantanal Conservation Area stands out as a visually overwhelming representation of a globally important wetland covering a broad range of the diverse landscape features of the Pantanal ecoregion, including some, which are restricted to the World Heritage site. Next to almost permanently flooded areas are small forests and savannas against the backdrop of the Serra do Amolar mountain range with its distinct dry forests. The possibility to see the iconic Giant Water Lily (Victoria amazonica) in the immediate vicinity of cacti species epitomizes the aesthetic landscape mosaic (World Heritage Committee, 2015; IUCN, 2000).

▶ Ongoing ecological processes Criterion:(ix)

On a reduced scale, this World Heritage site (covering 187,818 ha) is a model of ecological and biological processes underway throughout the broader Pantanal. Considered a phytogeographic region, the Pantanal is strongly influenced by neighboring ecosystems (mainly those of Cerrado and Amazonia, but also those of Chaquenha and the Atlantic) (World Heritage Committee, 2015). The unique ecological gradient in the region contributes to the maintenance of biological processes. The World Heritage site is recognized for an important role in the dispersion of nutrients to the entire basin and is an important reserve for maintaining fish stocks in the Pantanal (World Heritage Committee, 2015). In the beginning of the rainy season, where anaerobic conditions prevail in most channels and streams, there occurs a phenomena of upstream migration of a number of fishes to the small rivers and streams flowing from the Amolar mountains that have a greater concentration of oxygen. This is a rare natural phenomenon for the entire Pantanal that can be easily seen in the World Heritage site (IUCN, 2000). The site is also noteworthy for an extensive area that remains partially flooded during the dry season, thereby triggering migrations and serving as a refuge for many wildlife species (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). During flood periods, a part of the fauna (notably the largest mammals) migrate from the plain to the higher, drier regions, and during the more severe drought periods, the plain can be the only area in the region to remain humid, thus playing a precious role in the maintenance of the fauna (World Heritage Committee, 2015).

▶ High biodiversity and large wildlife aggregations Criterion:(x)

The Pantanal is an ecological meeting point bringing together elements of vegetation and species of the Amazon, Cerrado, Chaco and even the Atlantic Forest. The World Heritage site is a particularly rich, well- protected and intact sample of many of the diverse and seasonally dynamic habitats of the Pantanal, ranging from aquatic to extremely dry systems and several semi-deciduous forest types. The highly diverse assemblage of neotropical plants includes an exceptionally high number of aquatic species. The IUCN evaluation (IUCN, 2000) suggests 80 mammal species, 50 reptiles and more that 300 freshwater fish species while acknowledging the high probability of further records. The freshwater fish diversity of the site is noteworthy for at least two reasons. First, the site remains partially inundated even during dry years and thus serves as critical habitat. Second, as subsistence, commercial and recreational fishing increases, the property is among the few areas without any direct use pressure. The most conspicuous mammals include several felids, such as jaguar (Panthera onca, NT), puma (Puma concolor, LC), jaguarundi (Herpailurus yagouaroundi, LC) and ocelot (Leopardus pardalis, LC). Large concentrations of Yacaré (Caiman yacare, LC) and Capybara (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris, LC) have been recovering from commercial hunting and are a common sight in the property again. Also common are white-lipped and IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

collared peccary (Tayassu pecari, VU and Pecari tajacu, respectively, LC), the endangered giant river otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus, NT), giant armadillo (Priodontes giganteus, VU), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla, VU) and marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus, VU), one of several deer species. The avifauna is remarkable not only for its enormous diversity but for very large nesting and migratory aggregations (UNEP-WCMC, 2011; Junk et al., 2006; Mittermeier et al., 2005; Por, 2003; IUCN, 2000).

▶ Ongoing hydrological processes Criterion:(ix)

The main source of water for the Pantanal is the Cuiabá River, which is the principal tributary of the Paraguay River; these two rivers are functionally among the most important waterways in the Pantanal. The World Heritage site is located in the headwater basins of these two rivers, thus being critically important from the hydrological point of view (IUCN, 2000). The World Heritage site also demonstrates a broad range of the characteristic processes of the Pantanal (Padovani, 2010) despite its modest size in comparison to the entire wetland. Despite covering only between 1 and 2 percent of the Pantanal, the World Heritage site epitomizes major on-going ecological, biological and hydrological processes. The most striking process is the constantly changing hydrology according to a seasonal cycle of torrential rainfall in the Pantanal and surrounding uplands followed by slowly receding waters in the dry season. The association of rare lowlands areas inundated at all times with the seasonally dry Amolar Mountains provides a unique contrast and mosaic of ecosystems.

Assessment information

Threats

Current Threats High Threat

While the World Heritage site itself is not subject to major direct modifications within its boundaries, and its state of conservation seems to still be relatively good, there are important concerns about a multitude of individual and cumulative threats impacting the entire wetland system. The major threats stem from land use change resulting in loss and degradation of native forests and grasslands in favour of industrial export-oriented agriculture and intensive cattle ranching; various forms of extensive alterations of flow regimes and the hydro-ecology of the wetland; water contamination from multiple sources, soil erosion and sedimentation; invasive alien species and poorly controlled and managed natural resources. Most of these threats come from areas that are not part of the Conservation Complex, but are intricately linked to it ecologically and hydrologically, thus putting the site's values ​​at risk. The evidence found from the last assessment in 2017 to date, indicates that these pressures on the wetland persist and even with greater intensity.

▶ Dams/ Water Management or Use High Threat (Ongoing dam construction in the headwaters of important Outside site tributaries of the Paraguay River)

The delicate balance of the periodic and episodic flooding of large areas of the Pantanal is threatened by increasing numbers of dams in the headwaters of tributaries of the mighty Paraguay River. Calheiros, Castrilon and Bampi (2018) identified 165 hydroelectric plant enterprises in the plateau surrounding the Pantanal plain (45 of them in operation, 11 granted, 56 available axes, 47 with environmental basic plan accepted and 2 with registration). Most of them are small hydroelectric plants, many in the same river. It is observed that, for implementation of the enterprises, there is no planning in the hydrographic basin regarding the ecological issue, the pre-existing populations and their socioeconomic activities. These hydroelectric plants are planned for the rivers that have their headwaters on the surrounding of the Complex, these waterways are directly responsible for the annual floods of the Pantanal. The dams will interrupt the transport of sediments and nutrients downstream, water quality as well as the upstream movement of migratory fishes (Schulz et al., 2019; Alho and Reis, 2017). For instance, Schulz et al. (2019) reported that discharge of the Cuiabá River, one of the two major northern affluent of the Pantanal, was reduced by 20% at the beginning of the wet season and increased by an additional 1 m IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

during dry season, due to the construction of the large Manso Dam on one of the tributaries of the Cuiabá River, in the upper catchment area.

▶ Crops, Livestock Farming / Grazing High Threat (Modification of flow and flood patterns) Outside site

Water is the key driver of the constantly dynamic wetland with both quantity and timing influencing the ecosystems in countless ways. There is an increasing intensity of human-induced modifications of the hydrology. They include dykes and canals to claim farmland and pastures, upstream hydropower development, water abstraction for irrigation and construction of elevated roads (Petry et al., 2012; UNEP-WCMCM, 2011; Tomas et al., 2009). The Pantanal suffered a major intensification of land use over the last 30 years. Vegetation loss, mainly on the plateau, generates large environmental impacts on lowlands, such as an increase in sediment flow of up to 191% and water discharge of up to 82%, which can lead to significant changes in flood dynamics, and ecosystem services such as nutrient cycling and provision of fish habitat, affecting the natural healthy function of the whole biome (Guerra et al., 2020; Schulz et al., 2019; Alho and Reis, 2017). River avulsion in the Pantanal wetland is one of the effects of deforestation on the plateaus (Roque et al., 2016). The impacts add up to a considerable alteration of the natural flood regime and drainage patterns at a time when proposals to convert the Paraguay River into a major commercial shipping route raise even more fundamental question marks on the future of the Pantanal.

▶ Invasive Non-Native/ Alien Species High Threat (Invasive species) Inside site, extent of threat not known Outside site The literature provides numerous hints at terrestrial and aquatic alien species in the Pantanal region. Researchers have found considerable numbers of exotic species introduced into the Pantanal. They include plants, mollusks, fish, feral pigs, cats, dogs, cattle and others. The common pig (Sus scrofa), which becomes feral, locally called porco-monteiro, is commonly seen in large open areas, being present in all areas sampled for this study. The golden mussel (Limnoperna fortunei) is an Asian mollusk that reached the Pantanal through the La Plata-Paraguay river system, and has spread to aquatic habitats. Another invader is the Amazonian tucunaré fish (Cichla cf. ocellaris), introduced in the Pantanal, and which is a voracious predator, feeding on prey of the local ecosystem. Another Amazonian fish that has been seen in fisheries in the Pantanal is the tambaqui Colossoma macropomum. Some of these species have been observed even in protected areas, which conflicts with the management plan (Alho et al., 2019). Exotic grasses such as Urochloa decumbens and Urochloa humidicola, currently cover areas where natural vegetation was predominant (Alho and Reis, 2017). The presence of artificial hybrids produced in fish farming plants and then released unintentionally into natural waterways is another important threat to the natural populations of fish in the Pantanal. Two of the most known examples are a hybrid called “ponto-e-vírgula” and another named “Tambacu”. These hybrids are nowadays interbreeding with the natural populations of the parental species, and represent a further threat to three very important native species, both ecologically and economically (Alho and Reis, 2017). While there can be no doubt that the alien species change the communities and ecosystems, the impacts of most of these species on regional biodiversity are still largely unknown (Tomas et al., 2019).

▶ Erosion and Siltation/ Deposition High Threat (Soil erosion and sedimentation) Inside site, extent of threat not known Outside site Erosion and sedimentation associated with an increase in exotic grass-based cattle grazing and large- scale commercial crop production in the uplands of the Cerrado and other areas draining into the Pantanal are a significant threat to the World Heritage site. Large areas of Cerrado have been logged and cleared for massive agribusinesses, mostly soybean production for export. Deforestation within the Pantanal region is also a growing threat. Combined with ongoing deforestation in and near the Pantanal, such massive land use changes alter flood pattern and dramatically increase siltation of major rivers. Some areas of the Pantanal, which used to experience a seasonal flood cycle now remain flooded throughout the year (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). Sedimentation in river channels is one the most severe impacts resulting from unsustainable farming practices, including deforestation and bank erosion in the uplands and outside of the Pantanal (e.g. in the Cerrado ecosystem, over 60% of its savanna vegetation IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

has been converted into pasture and croplands (Alho and Reis, 2017), causing loss and degradation in the wetlands (Schulz et al., 2019; Tomas et al., 2019).

▶ Crops Low Threat (Conversion of natural and semi-natural ecosystems to intensively Outside site used cropland)

While there is no risk of land conversion in the World Heritage site itself and the Pantanal floodplain in the foreseeable future, and nearly 80% of the native vegetation remains well conserved (Tomas et al., 2019), some risks remain. However, overall the deforestation pressure in the broader Pantanal region is lower than in other areas due to the characteristics of the floodplains acting as a restricting factor.

▶ Water Pollution, Household Sewage/ Urban Waste Water, Low Threat Agricultural effluents Inside site, extent of threat not known (Increasing water pollution from multiple sources) Outside site

While the World Heritage site itself is not subject to direct pollution, water pollution from the growing urban centers, mining and agrochemicals have been constantly increasing for decades (Sartini Dutra Pimenta et al., 2013; Bertassoni et al., 2012; Mittermeier et al. 2005; IBAMA, 2003; IUCN, 2000). Millions of gallons of untreated wastewater, sewage, organic wastes, agrochemicals, and storm run-off constantly enter the waterways and flooded areas (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). Schulz et al. (2019) acknowledge that this threat mainly comes from intensive farming practices in the neighbouring uplands, probably more so than through farming inside the Pantanal. The Pantanal's natural environment has deteriorated with pesticides and toxic agricultural chemicals, including an increased fish mortality. In addition, most cities, villages, and touristic resorts in the region do not have sewage treatment plants, and most of the sewage is drained directly into rivers, polluting the water (Alho and Reis, 2017).

▶ Livestock Farming / Grazing High Threat (Cattle ranching) Inside site, extent of threat not known Outside site Cattle ranching has been a common land use for some two centuries across large areas of the Brazilian Pantanal. Traditionally, native pastures are used for grazing in line with flooding patterns, which results in a land use compatible with the maintenance of many of the Pantanal’s conservation values despite impacts on vegetation and competition with native grazers. However, traditional is increasingly giving way to more intensive forms of cattle ranching based on drainage and introduced grasses permitting higher stocking levels. This intensified ranching has led to native plants and grasses being replaced by imported African grass (Miranda et al., 2018). The effects include loss, fragmentation, and degradation of natural habitats and severe negative impacts on biodiversity and ecosystem services (Tomas et al., 2019). The more intense the ranching the higher the impacts on the forest and wetland vegetation, wildlife habitats, forest frugivores and the higher the eutrophication of aquatic environments (Eaton, 2013). The cattle herds between 1985 and 2015 grew more in the central-west region than in other regions, expanding from 40 million cattle to 75 million in 2015 (Alho et al., 2019). Other direct and indirect impacts of high-intensity cattle ranching for commercial meat production are the use of fire to stimulate growth of grass, soil compaction and decreased soil infiltration and erosion. Finally, in the Pantanal, wildlife is exposed to a close contact with human activities, often resulting in historical conflicts such as the predation of cattle by large carnivores. When such conflict does occur, large carnivores are often killed (Tomas et al., 2019).

▶ Hunting and trapping, Logging/ Wood Harvesting, Fishing High Threat / Harvesting Aquatic Resources Inside site, extent of threat not known (Poorly controlled natural resource use) Outside site

Hunting and harvesting have been a part of the Pantanal since the beginning of its human history. Subsistence hunting of game species and harvesting of a broad range of wild biodiversity products remains an integral part of local livelihoods. Retaliation killings of large cats remain common in response to conflicts with livestock and are difficult to control in remote areas. Fishing is particularly IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

complex, as subsistence, commercial and recreational fishing are all on the rise. There is a continuing conflict between local subsistence fishers and fishing tourists who are both blamed for fish decay in the Pantanal (Schulz et al., 2019; Alho and Reis, 2017), even if the actual causes of fish decline are still poorly understood and impacts of fishing might be overstated (Schulz et al., 2019).

▶ Mining/ Quarrying High Threat (Gold mining) Outside site

Even though there is no risk of mining in the World Heritage site itself, water abstraction and contamination are the main threats. Upstream gold mining releases huge quantities of toxic mercury into the Pantanal confirmed by documentation of high levels of mercury in kingfishers, raptors and native fish (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). Mining is of great economic importance for the region and risks of contamination due to the use of the mercury from gold mining have been reported over two decades (Tomas et al., 2019). High levels of mercury were detected in fish in the Pantanal, which then accumulate in other animals of the local food chain, such as jaguars and birds (Schulz et al., 2019). There were 700 gold-mining dredges along the Cuiabá River. In the town of Poconé, unregulated gold mines have also contaminated the freshwater habitats with mercury. Studies have found high levels of mercury (higher than 0.5 μg/g) in about half of the Cuiabá River fishes, which is beyond the international standard for contamination (Alho and Reis, 2017).

▶ Droughts, Temperature extremes Very High Threat (Increasing frequency and severity of fires associated with climate Inside site, extent of threat not known change) Outside site

In 2019, the fire in the Pantanal region reached proportions never before recorded. According to WWF- Brazil analysis, until October 2019, there was a 97% increase in the number of hot spots compared to the average of the last 10 years: almost 8 thousand fires were registered. Even if it is acknowledged that there is a low occurrence of heat sources in indigenous lands and none in protected areas (WWF Brazil, 2019), the effects of uncontrolled fires could be detrimental for the site’s biodiversity, landscape beauty and wetland ecological functions. Local authorities estimate that 90% of fires in Pantanal are caused by human action (Wetlands International, 2020), however, these have intensified due to one of the worst droughts in history, recorded in the first quarter of 2020 (SOS Pantanal, 2020a). According to Wetlands International (2020), 1,031 fires were registered in the broader Pantanal region in this period, compared to 641 in 2019, representing an increase of 60%. This is related to the information published by WWF Brazil (2020), in which according to Embrapa Pantanal, the region's rainy season (November to March) registers a historical average of 810 mm for the period; however, from November 2019 to March 12, in 2020 it rained 350 mm, which corresponds to only 43% of the expected precipitation for the historical average. However, impacts on the World Heritage site itself specifically still need to be evaluated.

Potential Threats Very High Threat

Other than the effects of climate change as an overarching concern, the potential threats in essence boil down to the continuation and intensification of the existing threats, such as further dam construction and large-scale transportation infrastructure proposed. Major modification of the still natural course of the Paraguay River and construction of transoceanic roads in order to facilitate large-scale commercial transportation, could have devastating effects over this complex ecosystem. While tourism and recreational fishing are traditional activities in the Pantanal and they seem have positive contributions to conservation, if appropriate control and management measures are not taken, they could generate a high risk for the maintenance of the Complex's values.

▶ Dams/ Water Management or Use Very High Threat (Proposed further construction of dams on tributaries of the Outside site Paraguay River)

As noted above, dam constructions in the Upper Paraguay River Watershed outside the World Heritage site have already changed the flow regimes and thereby altered the timing and intensity of flood pulses IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

defining the dynamics and productivity of the Pantanal. Beyond this existing threat and impact, large numbers of additional dam projects have been proposed, the cumulative impacts of which constitute a significant threat to the future integrity of the Pantanal’s complex hydrological regime (WWF, 2018). Calheiros et al. (2012) report a total of 135 hydropower projects in the Brazilian section of the Upper Paraguay River Basin alone under construction or consideration at the time of writing, of which 38 were in operation. By 2018, Calheiros, Castrilon and Bampi established that there were 45 hydropower projects in operation and more than 100 in planning stages. Other costs of building such a large number of dams will be increasing the siltation already occurring in rivers like the Taquari, generating a heavy threat on all migratory fish species (Alho and Reis, 2017).

▶ Habitat Shifting/ Alteration, Droughts, Temperature Very High Threat extremes, Storms/Flooding Inside site, throughout(>50%) (Climate change and increasing frequency and severity of fires) Outside site

While there are not many studies evaluating the extent of climate change impact on the Pantanal wetland (Tomas et al., 2019), it appears highly possible that it may well cause additional damage to its aquatic ecosystems (Alho and Reis, 2017), since extreme floods and droughts are expected (Tomas et al., 2019). Such increased flood intensity and duration, of areas that were not previously flooded, may change the composition of the species present at a site (Aranda and Aoki, 2018).

▶ Roads/ Railroads, Shipping Lanes High Threat (Large-scale transportation infrastructure proposed) Outside site

A few large-scale transportation infrastructure projects are under discussion in the Pantanal region. One is the Hidrovia, which is the mega-infrastructure proposal also known as the Paraguay-Paraná Waterway, which would bring together Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Paraguay, Uruguay in an effort to allow passage of large vessels transporting minerals and agricultural crops to the Atlantic coast. This would require massive dredging, straightening, change of river course and removal of natural obstacles, which would massively change the still free-flowing Paraguay River (Mittermeier et al., 2005). Such major modifications of the main river have the potential to significantly alter the entire ecosystem. There are also other transoceanic roads and a railway projected. For instance, the southern portion of the Norte- Sul railroad, which runs from Chapada dos Parecis (MT) to Santos port in Sao Paulo state; the Transoceanic Highway, a transcontinental road planned to connect Brazil, Paraguay, Argentina, and Chile; the paving of the existing highway that starts at Cáceres (MT, Brazil) to Santa Cruz de La Sierra (in Bolivia); and the railroad planned by Bolivian and Brazilian governments, all of them set to improve the transportation of commodities from Central Brazil to the Pacific Ocean by reaching the Peruvian and Chilean coasts (Tomas et al., 2019). Although these projects seem to be competing with each other (Tomas et al., 2019), and probably not all will be developed, their effects on the complex Pantanal’s ecosystem could be devastating, including habitat fragmentation and further incentivise land use change towards intensive agriculture or cattle ranching, with its consequences for biodiversity and ongoing ecological and hydrological processes.

▶ Tourism/ Recreation Areas Low Threat (Unregulated tourism) Inside site, extent of threat not known Outside site Tourism is an important economic sector in the Pantanal (Schulz et al., 2019; de Souza et al., 2017). The region is well known by the abundance of its wildlife, which is a result of the high primary productivity and conservation status of the ecosystems in the floodplain. The easy observation of rare, iconic, and endangered species, such as the hyacinth macaw, the giant otter, the jaguar, the marsh deer, the jabiru stork, among others, make the region attractive for tourists. The recreational fishing is a traditional activity due to the high productivity of the Pantanal Rivers. The landscape is just as attractive, composed by a mosaic of forests, savannas, grasslands, and several types of aquatic habitats (Tomas et al., 2019). Wildlife watching and ecotourism are based upon conservation and making positive sustainable contributions to the natural and cultural environments that benefit the host communities (de Souza et al., 2017). IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

However, there is a variety of environmental threats caused by the unregulated tourism itself that include resource consumption (e.g. overfishing), waste generation, infrastructure, and, by its very nature, increased people access to natural areas (Alho et al., 2019; Tomas et al., 2019; de Souza et al., 2017). Also, a lack of control in river vessel traffic has been identified, affecting the sites for nesting of birds on the sandy beaches during the drought, mainly due to the waves produced in the water. Finally, the practice of feeding wildlife to attract them close to the tourists, could potentially upset the balance of some populations (Alho et al., 2019).

Overall assessment of threats High Threat

Although the World Heritage site itself is not directly subject of the many threats facing the broader Pantanal region, the individual and cumulative threats from land use changes, alterations of flow regimes and the wetland hydro-ecology, contamination, increasing of natural and anthropogenic fires, and invasive alien species give rise to major concerns. In the absence of decisive management responses, the continuation and intensification of the current threats is a realistic scenario, aggravated by the anticipated impacts of climate change. The longstanding proposal to invest in the development of a major commercial shipping corridor known as Hidrovia, added to other infrastructure projects, has the potential to result in devastating impacts. Despite the relatively good state of conservation of the Complex, the great variety and intensity of pressures and threats that hang over and around this delicate and intricate ecosystem and its values, could make it highly jeopardized in the medium and long run.

Protection and management

Assessing Protection and Management

▶ Management system Some Concern

Pantanal Matogrossense National Park is managed by the Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade (ICMBio), a semi-autonomous agency under the federal Ministry of the Environment (MMA). Management is guided by a management plan approved by IBAMA (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis) Ordinance 13 of March 3, 2004, with a specific modification approved by ICMBio Ordinance 633 of October 25, 2019, regarding prohibition of commercial and sport fishing in some locations of the Buffer Zone, as well as transit of certain kind of vessels (MMA/ICMBio, 2019). The Instituto Homem Pataneiro (IHP), a Brazilian non-profit NGO, manages the three Private Reserve of Natural Heritage (Acurizal, Penha and Dorochê) (IHP, 2020a). While these private reserves do not have management plans (ICMBio, 2020a), the management plan of the National Park comprises specific coordination activities with them (IBAMA, 2003); nonetheless, there is no evidence of an integrated management system for the Complex. Even though the management plan of the National Park is comprehensive concerning values, management objectives and threats, it is outdated and may need some adjustments regarding its strategies and actions relevant to the achievement of the conservation objectives. The 2019 management effectiveness evaluation of the National Park indicates that three actions were proposed related to the values ​​of the World Heritage Site (form the managing council, guarantee infrastructure for the performance of activities and carry out limits signposting), however, none has been performed and the feasibility of doing so is moderate to low (ICMBio, 2020a). The Pantanal Biosphere Reserve Action Plan 2020 - 2023 was presented by the end of 2019 to members of the Mato Grosso State Biosphere Reserve Committee. The actions are focused on sustainable development, integration with public policies and programs, research development, financial sustainability, regional networks and inclusive themes. It includes more concrete actions to consolidate the biosphere reserve as a management area for conservation (Governo de Mato Grosso, 2019) IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

▶ Effectiveness of management system Serious Concern

Recent evaluations of management effectiveness of the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park were carried out using SAMGe (Sistema de Análise e Monitoramento de Gestão) tool. While the overall results improved slightly between 2017, 2018 and 2019 (44.3%, 46.4% and 49.8% respectively), it is still a moderate management effectiveness. From the evaluation of 2019 it is possible to infer that, the objectives of the management plan are being fulfilled, since the highest values ​​correspond to “products and services” with 72.9% and “results” with 70.1% (both in the “effective” category). By contrast, there are significant issues related to “inputs” (availability of financial, human, technical resources and equipment) and “context” (analysis of uses that are incompatible with what is expected from a given category and the resulting impacts), with a score of 35.9% and 31.2%, which indicates a reduced effectiveness (ICMBio, 2020a). The situation of low availability of resources has not changed much with respect to the effectiveness evaluation carried out in 2010, where the Park received the lowest scores (50% or less) in terms of infrastructure, financial and human resources (ICMBio, 2012). Regarding the state level protecd areas system, there is moderate level of management effectiveness (WWF, 2018). The main concerns are related to availability of staff, high staff turnaround in protected areas and lack of training. The only evidence of adaptive management practice correspond to the Ordinance 633 of October 25, 2019, regarding commercial and sport fishing in the Buffer Zone of the National Park mentioned above, since it is one of the main alerts of negative impact that demand immediate management, along with visitation without planning, plant and mineral extraction, and hunting. Finally, at the time of this assessment, no data of management effectiveness was found for the Penha, Acurizal and Dorochê Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPN).

▶ Boundaries Data Deficient

The boundaries are clear and well planned, as well as demarked on the ground, with buoys used for demarcation during high waters (UNEP-WCMC, 2011). While it is clear that protected areas covering a humble surface of less than 2 percent of a major ecosystem inevitably come with shortcomings, the site selection and configuration represents a plausible and coherent conservation planning approach. The National Park´s buffer zone determined 9 external strategic areas (ESA), dedicated to conservation and sustainable use, which are relevant for its interaction with the region, with specific rules, regulating the occupation and use of natural resources, aiming to protect the site values (IBAMA, 2003).

▶ Integration into regional and national planning systems Mostly Effective

The National Park and Private Reserve of Natural Heritage are integrated into the National System of Nature Conservation Units (SNUC), allowing for integrated management in the three spheres of government (federal, state and municipal) (MMA, 2020). Given that the World Heritage site covers a small part only of a vast and extraordinarily complex wetland system extending over territories of three countries, the main factors determining its future are beyond the control of site management. Even so, there is an initiative looking to integrate part of the Complex into a broader regional system, it is the proposal for creation of a Mosaic of conservation units in the Northern Pantanal, involving expansion of some protected areas and creation of others. Even though it only includes the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park (excluding the three private reserves), this strategy pursues to achieve a significant size of a 'single block of land' with great biodiversity and without anthropic intervention with the potential to safeguard an important fraction of the biodiversity of the Pantanal biome (Agrotools, 2018). The creation of the Wildlife Reserve and the Wildlife Refuge and the expansion of the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park and Taiamã Ecological Station would connect all the conservation units in the region, creating an important ecological corridor, and reinforcing this “hydrological hub” (Tortato, 2018). This proposal has been criticized by environmentalists, considering that it lacks good technical bases, is unaware of the identified conservation priorities, and political opportunities are wasted when creating less relevant areas (Padua, 2018). The proposal was also not well received by rural producers, who argue that the measure will negatively impact more than 100 of them in the region. Although two public consultations were held in July 2018 in the cities of Cáceres and Poconé (Wenzel, 2018), the process seems to be at a standstill. Additionally, the Amolar Mountains Protection and Conservation Network (AMPCN) arises from the partnership between organizations that own land destined to IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

conservation and socio-educational actions along the axis of the Paraguay River, in the states of Mato Grosso do Sul and Mato Grosso. All the conservation units involved in the Pantanal Complex are part of this initiative (IHP, 2020b). Overall, there is still a need to better integrate different conservation initiatives in the region. The protected areas are still isolated and not integrated in different levels of management.

▶ Relationships with local people Some Concern

The World Heritage site is owned and managed by federal and private conservation actors, and neither inhabited nor subject to land claims. There are no inhabitants within the National Park and only occasional incursions of cattle from neighbouring ranches occur. An Advisory Council brings together relevant government agencies, non-governmental organizations and local community representatives to advise on management (World Heritage Commitee, 2015; Tazik et al., 2004). The Amolar Mountains Protection and Conservation Network represents an opportunity to improve relationships between local people and stakeholders, since it includes actors such as Instituto Homem Pataneiro (IHP), Acaia Pantanal Institute, Santa Tereza Ranch, Ecotrópica Foundation and Pantanal Matogorossense National Park / ICMBio and Environmental Military Police (IHP, 2020b). Even so, according to the last management effectiveness evaluation of the National Park Pantanal Matogossense, states that participatory management and integration with the local population or the environment is at a low level of consolidation (ICMBio, 2020a). Regarding access to benefits, the Instituto Homem Pataneiro states that all the resources generated by the ecotourism practiced in the areas under its management in Amolar Mountains (including the three Private Reserve of Natural Heritage), will be reverted to the protection and conservation activities of these areas (IHP, 2020c).

▶ Legal framework Mostly Effective

There is extensive legislation relevant to the biodiversity of the Pantanal. The Pantanal enjoys explicit protection as national heritage according Art. 225, § 4 of Brazil’s Constitution dated 1988, which stipulates its conservation and sustainable use. Pantanal Matogrossense National Park was established by Federal Decree in 1981, while the three contiguous private protected areas were formally recognized by IBAMA (Instituto Brasileiro do Meio Ambiente e dos Recursos Naturais Renováveis) in 1997 as so- called Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPN), a category according to Brazil's protected area law SNUC. The National Park was declared a Wetland of International Importance (Ramsar Site) in 1993 and designated as one of multiple core zones of a biosphere reserve simultaneously with the World Heritage inscription in 2000, adding several layers of international recognition. However, in despite of Article 10 of the Brazilian Native Vegetation Protection Act, law number 12.651/2012, considering the Pantanal as a “restricted use” area, allowing “ecologically sustainable use”, the laws of the states in which the Pantanal Conservation Area is located are more flexible or contradictory in this sense, generating pressures in the change of land use (Tomas et al., 2019). Also, Schulz et al. (2017) suggest that environmental laws are often weakened in front of the influential agribusiness sector in the region.

▶ Law enforcement Serious Concern

Limited law enforcement in the wider Pantanal is an important concern, for example as regards compliance with environmental legislation, widespread poaching, wildlife trade, illegal fishing and illegal deforestation. The presence of these threats is often associated with ineffective control and low level of implementation of existing legislation, due to inefficient institutional infrastructure (Alho et al., 2019). The Pantanal has only one inspector per 204 km², that is, fewer than one thousand civil servants to monitor an area equivalent to the size of Uruguay. The lack of resources also makes it difficult to detect crimes, reducing the probabilities of conviction in criminal cases (Moreno and Palacio, 2019). Moreover, there is a lack of enforcement even in protected areas, that although they have a management plan, their implementation is not as effective (Alho et al., 2019). In this sense, ICMBio (2020a) found in the management effectiveness evaluation of the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park, that out of the three actions related to inspection proposed in the inspection plan, two of them were partially executed and one was not carried out, indicating a low feasibility of doing so. This protected area has an IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

incredible number of three public servants, two fixed and one assigned - who do not have the power to enforce laws (Moreno and Palacio, 2019).

▶ Implementation of Committee decisions and Data Deficient recommendations

No Committee decisions have been taken on this World Heritage site since its inscription other than the adoption of the retrospective Statement of Outstanding Universal Value in 2015.

▶ Sustainable use Mostly Effective

Tourism and research are sustainable use activities allowed and encouraged in all conservation units of the Pantanal Complex. The management effectiveness evaluation of the National Park, acknowledges that ecological tourism in some places in the area, as well as scientific research, has positive effects on the conservation of values (ICMBio, 2020a). As regard to PRNH, believing in ecotourism as a sustainability tool, the Instituto Homem Pataneiro started in 2016 the ecotourism project in protected areas under its management, in which the only permitted activities are research, environmental education and ecotourism (IHP, 2020c). While fishing is a use prohibited in the National Park, one exception applies to the artisanal professional fishing practiced by members of the Traditional Community of Barra do São Lourenço, previously registered by ICMBio, according to some specifications and permission. These permits are subject to the execution of the fisheries monitoring program conducted by ICMBio in partnership with the community, located in the Park’s buffer zone (MMA/ICMBio, 2019).

▶ Sustainable finance Serious Concern

The management of protected areas also has its limitations. Of the 1,979 conservation units established in Brazil, 1,189 are the responsibility of the public sector and its financing depends on the national budget and international assistance (BID, 2018). Recent policy developments in Brazil are carrying out several reductions of financial resources for conservation management and making the environmental control more flexible. The freezing for 20 years of the Ministry of the Environment MMA budget by the Constitutional Amendment Proposal PEC 241 and the approval of the Decree No. 9471 of March 2019, which cut 46.36 million USD from the Ministry of the Environment, are rules that can reduce the capacity of monitoring and control of impacts in the protected areas (de Area et al., 2019). Also, the last management effectiveness evaluation of the National Park recognized the financial resources as a main requirement for actions required in different processes (ICMBio, 2020a).

▶ Staff capacity, training, and development Serious Concern

Availability of staff is still limited for the natural protected areas, and also recognized as “very low” an “low” regarding the management plan actions in the last management effectiveness evaluation (ICMBio, 2020). However, for both the National Park and private reserves, no additional evidence was found in this regard.

▶ Education and interpretation programs Some Concern

Environmental education is an explicit management objective for both of the protected area categories comprising the property. The Instituto Homem Pataneiro systematically develops training, updating and training actions aimed at actors who work in environmental conservation and preservation actions, especially in the Pantanal region. Among the permanent project highlights are the Course on strategies for nature conservation and the field course of the Postgraduate Program in Ecology and Conservation at the Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS) / Campus Pantanal (IHP, 2020d). Additionally, there is an awareness program in place, the Pantanal Expedition 2019 carried out by the NGO SOS Pantanal, whose 5th phase was developed inside and around de Amolar Mountains, seeking to bring ties closer together and assist in promoting the sustainable development of the Pantanal (SOS Pantanal, 2020b).

▶ Tourism and visitation management Some Concern

Tourism is an important economic activity in the Pantanal, however, there is no evidence of a IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

visitation/tourism plan for the Pantanal Complex. Visits to the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park are still authorized exceptionally to publicize the potential of ecotourism on the spot. However, there is no support structure for tourism in the National Park region (such as hotels, inns or restaurants for accommodation and food) and it is necessary to hire the hotel boats in the city of Corumbá / MS, or a hotel located in Porto Jofre, in Poconé / MT. There is no charge for admission, but prior authorization is required for visitation (ICMBio, 2020b). 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. Among the activities offered are hiking, visits to riverside communities, boat expeditions on the Paraguay River and in bays close to the lodging centers and a visit to the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park. The great advantage of ecotourism practiced in these areas is that all the resources generated by the visitation will be reverted to the protection and conservation activities of these areas (IHP, 2020c).

▶ Monitoring Mostly Effective

Monitoring in federal conservation units is coordinated by the ICMBio through the “Monitora Program - National Biodiversity Monitoring Program”- and one of its objectives is to generate qualified information for the ongoing assessment of the effectiveness of federal UCs and the National System of Conservation Units in meeting their biodiversity conservation objectives. It was formalized in 2017, and the Pantanal Matogrossense National Park is one of the conservation units with ongoing monitoring, focused on wetlands (ICMBio, 2018a). As part of this program, the National Park carried out fishing monitoring actions around the conservation unit. The activities developed in the buffer zone included the registration of residents of the traditional community of Barra do São Lourenço, the development of the experimental fishing protocol and the realization of the first self-monitoring workshop in the community (ICMBio, 2018b). Additionally, Instituto Homem Pataneiro conducted since 2010, environmental monitoring in the Amolar Monuntains Protection and Conservation Network (AMPCN). Its objective is to monitor and evaluate the ecological processes that regulate the way of life of the fauna that inhabits the protected areas of the AMPCN. The monitoring records the occurrence of species, determines diversity hotspots, identifies areas subject to anthropic changes and seasonality of ecological processes as quantitative and qualitative evidence, in the areas of the National Park and Pantanal and AMPCN (PRNH Doroche, Rumo ao Oeste, Acurizal, Penha and Eng Eliezer Batista, in addition to areas not legally declared as conservation units) (IHP, 2020e). Concerning fire monitoring, the portal Queimadas is continuously monitoring outbreaks of wildfires and forest fires detected by satellites, calculating and predicting vegetation fire risk, and registering updated information per biome and state, even with the chance to focus on protected areas (INPE, 2020).

▶ Research Some Concern

Elsewhere in the Pantanal, several research institutions have been involved in research for decades, often in close cooperation with renowned research institutions from all over the world. Since 2015, 28 civil society organizations active in Upper Paraguay River Basin, including Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay have been working together in the initiative “Pantanal Observatory”. It represents the union of civil society organizations, acting in favor of socio-environmental issues in the region. Its mission is to create a space for the generation, diffusion and application of traditional knowledge and scientific information to the public of the region and the international community, to promote and catalyze effective and efficient actions for sustainable development and political impact in and for the Pantanal biome (Observatorio Pantanal, n.d). However, is not clear how these research results and networking initiatives are being incorporated by the conservation units to support planning, management and decision-making to ensure that values are maintained over the long-term. IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

Overall assessment of protection and management Some Concern

The present assessment found important advances since the last one carried out in 2017, regarding integration of the World Heritage site into regional and national planning systems and monitoring; however, it also found great challenges in relation to effectiveness of the management system, law enforcement and sustainable finance, the latter being critical for achieving a better protection and management of the site. Again, the dilemma persists as long as main threats cannot be addressed at the site level but inevitably require responses at the regional, national and even international level.

▶ Assessment of the effectiveness of protection and Serious Concern management in addressing threats outside the site

The major threats originating from outside the World Heritage site, such as land use change, increasing dam constructions and large-scale infrastructure projects, sedimentation, pollution, and effects of climate change are largely beyond the scope and mandate of site management and the Brazilian federal protected area agency ICMBio. Although there are a few regional proposals aiming to address these threats and pressures, given its multiple and complex nature, there is serious concern about the effectiveness of addressing them, from the Pantanal Conservation Area scale.

▶ Best practice examples

The Amolar Mountains Protection and Conservation Network (AMPCN) represents a good example of partnership between organizations that own land destined to conservation and socio-educational actions, giving opportunity to improve relationships between local people and stakeholders (IHP, 2020b). In this sense, Martins, da Silva and de Souza (2019) state that NGOs carry out interesting and necessary work with the community, which involves the management of the activities such as monitoring and inspection, firefighting, training, educational actions and assistance in national and international research projects. They also found that income generation contributed to the empowerment of women in the community.

State and trend of values

Assessing the current state and trend of values

World Heritage values

▶ Outstanding landscape beauty Low Concern Trend:Deteriorating

Most of the threats related to land use change occur in the surroundings of the Pantanal Conservation Area. In the Pantanal floodplain nearly 80% of the native vegetation remains well conserved (Tomas et al., 2019). The zone has maintained its natural characteristics, in geomorphology, water and biological terms, despite the subtle presence of anthropic activities (Agrotools, 2018). Likewise, ICMBio (2020a) determined that the resource "geodiversity and landscape" corresponding to the Natural Heritage area recognized by UNESCO in Pantanal Matogrossense National Park, is in a conservation situation. Thus, it is possible to suggest that there are minor concerns in relation to the outstanding landscape beauty of the site. There have been no extreme situations that reverse the trend identified in the 2014 and 2017 assessments.

▶ Ongoing ecological processes High Concern Trend:Deteriorating

Even though the ecosystem where the World Heritage site is immersed demonstrated resilience and maintenance of its ecological dynamics (Agrotools, 2018), there are multiple current and potential IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

threats in the neighboring ecosystems that come with ecological impacts to the site: deficient water quality and alterations in movement regime of migratory fishes, habitat loss (Alho and Reis, 2017; Schulz et al., 2019); high levels of mercury accumulating in local food chain (Schulz et al., 2019); effects on nutrient cycling and provision of fish habitat (Guerra et al., 2020; Schulz et al., 2019; Alho and Reis, 2017); potential change of composition of the species present at the site (Aranda and Aoki, 2018). These alterations to ongoing ecological processes and their causes were identified in the 2014 and 2017 assessments and appear to be intensifying over time, aggravated by the fact that their mitigation is mainly beyond the reach of the actors managing the conservation units of the site. This trend remains since the 2014 and 2017 assessments.

▶ High biodiversity and large wildlife aggregations High Concern Trend:Deteriorating

Threats to the biodiversity of the Pantanal Conservation Area are also related to the anthropic activities taking place in the surroundings (Roque et al. 2016), and are highly linked to the alteration of ecological and hydrological processes. On the other hand, there is a low knowledge about the effects of climate change and invasive species on the biodiversity of the Pantanal (Tomas et al., 2019). ICMBio (2020a) determined that the resource "biodiversity" corresponding to Pantanal ecosystems and genetic resources in Pantanal Matogrossense National Park, is in a conservation situation. In contrast, the same resource is classified as in a situation of intervention in lake ecosystems and other wetlands, due to anthropic factors such as illegal fishing. Taking that into account, unless ongoing patterns are reversed, halted or at least slowed down, the multiple pressures on biodiversity values are likely to further increase, aggravated by the expected impacts of climate change. This trend remains since the 2014 and 2017 assessments.

▶ Ongoing hydrological processes High Concern Trend:Deteriorating

Fragmentation of the rivers is the greatest impact for an ecosystem intrinsically linked to flood pulse and seasonal periodicity (Calheiros, Castrilon and Bampi, 2018). Although the World Heritage site covers only a small part of the entire Pantanal, its hydrological processes are immersed in the dynamics of this ecosystem and, therefore, highly affected by current and potential threats looming in its environment. These hydrological processes, in turn, are interrelated with and underpin the other site values identified, such as its scenic beauty, ongoing ecological processes and high biodiversity. While the effects of climate change on this particular ecosystem are not known with certainty, extreme floods and droughts are expected to occur, causing further disturbances to the site's hydrological processes (Tomas et al., 2019; Aranda and Aoki, 2018).

Summary of the Values

▶ Assessment of the current state and trend of World High Concern Heritage values Trend: Deteriorating

Overall, the natural beauty and aesthetics of the World Heritage site have remained relatively intact since 2000, when the site was inscribed on the World Heritage List. On the contrary, there are great concerns about the state of the other values ​​related to biodiversity, ecological and hydrological processes of the site, due to the high dependence on external factors affecting them, and the low mitigation capacity at the site level.

Additional information

Benefits

Understanding Benefits IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

▶ Importance for research, Contribution to education

The entire Pantanal is of extraordinary scientific importance as one of the largest and most complex wetlands of the world. Both the national park and the adjacent private protected areas (RPPNs) promote environmental education among their key management objectives. Education is furthermore an explicit objective of the overlapping biosphere reserve. Currently, the Pantanal Observatory groups 33 civil society organizations operating in the Alto Paraguay River Basin, in Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay. The objective is to promote synergies between institutions and areas of connectivity, making available scientific information and traditional knowledge for society, promoting training in various levels and providing the bases for processes of influence and decision-making and public policy (Observatorio Pantanal, n.d).

▶ Carbon sequestration, Flood prevention, Water provision (importance for water quantity and quality), Pollination

Carbon sequestration is one of the most acknowledged environmental services provided by wetlands (Were et al., 2019). Other than that, it has been identified that the broader Pantanal has the capacity to supply all four ecosystem services categories (provisioning, regulating, cultural and habitat), among which are: i) Maintenance and purification of water sources, necessary for humans, animals, farming, and river transport; ii) Protection and maintenance of soil fertility, necessary for agriculture; iii) Protection and conservation of plants and wildlife, necessary for human consumption; iv) Biological control to avoid plagues from destroying crops and pollination, v) Regulation of the hydro-biological processes to avoid droughts and floods; vi) Regulation of climate, avoiding abrupt changes in temperatures, rain and wind; and vii) Purification of air (Bedoya, 2018; WWF, n.d) Factors negatively affecting provision of this benefit : - Climate change : Trend - Increasing - Pollution : Trend - Increasing - Overexploitation : Trend - Increasing - Invasive species : Trend - Continuing - Habitat change : Trend - Increasing

▶ Collection of wild plants and mushrooms, Fishing areas and conservation of fish stocks, Traditional agriculture, Livestock grazing areas

The Pantanal - rather than the World Heritage site itself - is of critical importance to local communities, which depend on the wetland's natural resources, including non-timber forest products, fish and beef meat for food (Bedoya, 2018). Agriculture and cattle ranching ranges from the level of local subsistence to the large-scale commercial. Today, the few families that remain in the region of the Amolar Mountains, where the Complex is located, practice agriculture, fishing, livestock and extracting natural resources for their subsistence (Ecoa, n.d) Factors negatively affecting provision of this benefit : - Climate change : Trend - Increasing - Pollution : Trend - Increasing - Overexploitation : Trend - Increasing - Invasive species : Trend - Continuing - Habitat change : Trend - Increasing IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

▶ History and tradition, Sacred natural sites or landscapes, Cultural identity and sense of belonging

The region has a rich history, in addition to its natural environmental value. Prior to European colonization indigenous peoples have been using the natural resources of the Pantanal for more than 5,000 years (Mittermeier et al., 2005) and continue to do so in some areas. The broader region was home to many groups of Kaiowá, Terena, Borôro, Guató, and Guaykuru peoples, many of whose descendants now live in the region, some in indigenous reserves still largely observing historical traditions. Many of the few remaining Guató live in and around the national park (Mittermeier et al., 2005), including one of the last native speakers of the Guató language. The more recent history has shaped a very particular "Pantaneiro" culture, which is today being replaced by modern agriculture. The Brazilian Constitution recognizes the Pantanal as one of a handful of landscapes as national natural heritage, illustrating its iconic nature. As a comparatively wild place of global conservation significance, the Pantanal has been receiving international attention for decades.

▶ Outdoor recreation and tourism, Natural beauty and scenery

Tourism and recreation are localized due to the remoteness and limited infrastructure, the World Heritage site being one hub in the Brazilian Pantanal. There is some fishing tourism and wildlife observation based out of riverboat hotels and out of land-based hotels in Porto Jofre. Instituto Homem Pataneiro promotes visits to conservation units in the Amolar Mountains (including Private Reserves Acurizal, Penha and Dorochê) and one accommodation facility for visitors is located in RPPN Acurizal, in which the only permitted activities are research, environmental education and ecotourism (IHP, 2020c). Private landowners also host tourists on a limited basis. Factors negatively affecting provision of this benefit : - Climate change : Trend - Increasing - Overexploitation : Trend - Increasing - Habitat change : Trend - Increasing

▶ Direct employment, Tourism-related income, Provision of jobs

While modest, the national park and the contiguous private protected areas are a source of direct and indirect employment and income. The Amolar Mountains Protection and Conservation Network (RPCSA) represents a good example of partnership between organizations that own land destined to conservation and socio-educational actions, giving opportunity to improve relationships between local people and stakeholders (IHP, 2020b). In this sense, Martins, da Silva and de Souza (2019) state that NGOs carry out interesting and necessary work with the community, which involves the management of the activities such as monitoring and inspection, firefighting, training, educational actions and assistance in national and international research projects. They also found that income generation contributed to the empowerment of women in the community.

Summary of benefits

The benefits of the Pantanal Conservation Complex can hardly be separated from the benefits of the wider Pantanal. It provides multiple and important benefits and the four categories of environmental services (provisioning, regulating, cultural and habitat), not only to local communities but also to millions of people of the Paraguay River Basin. Particularly at the site, it is possible to identify the benefits related to knowledge, food, cultural and spiritual values, recreation, and to a lesser extent, the contribution to local economies. While it is acknowledged that all factors negatively affecting provision of benefits (land use change, pollution, over exploitation, climate change and invasive species) are present to some extent in the site, is difficult to stablish its level of impact. However, it is likely that these factors continue to increase over time, due to the high dynamics of anthropogenic and economic intervention, which was previously IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

mentioned in the assessment.

Projects

Compilation of active conservation projects

№ Organizatio Brief description of Active Projects Website n

1 Brazilian Project “Conservation, Restoration and Management Strategies for the https://www.mma.gov. Fund for Caatinga, Pampa and Pantanal Biodiversity - Terrestrial GEF”. The Project br/areas- Biodiversity takes place through three main strategies: 1. Consolidation of the National protegidas/programas- (FUNBIO) System of Conservation Units (SNUC), including the creation of new e-projetos/projeto-gef- Conservation Units (UCs) and support for existing ones; 2. Recovery of terrestre.html native vegetation; and 3. National Action Plans for endangered species

2 WWF Project PASOS - Pantanal Sustainable Landscape, Cerrado and Chiquitano http://www.wwf.org.py Bolivia, Dry Forest (2018-2021). Strategic objective: Contribute to the conservation /que_hacemos/proyect Brazil and of biodiversity, ecosystem services and cultural functions in the Cerrado, os/pasos/   Paraguay Pantanal and the Bosque Seco Chiquitano, to ensure a sustainable productive development and improve human wellbeing.

3 Instituto The "Pantanal Headwaters" project aims to protect the springs and https://www.institutoh Homem permanent preservation areas (APPs) of the Plateau region of the Upper omempantaneiro.org. Pantaneiro Paraguay Basin (BAP). Several organizations joined the IHP / Rede do br/cabeceiras-do- Amolar in this effort. With the help of geotechnology and field surveys, a pantanal diagnosis of the situation of these springs and APPs will be carried out. The Geopantanal Platform will systematize and make available, in a web environment, data from satellites combined with field data (environmental monitoring and research) from the region covered by the project.

4 Women of “Corredor Azul” is a ten-year programme led by Wetlands International and https://www.mupan.or Pantanal funded by DOB Ecology. Its vision is that unique biodiversity and the well- g.br/corredorazul/ (MUPAN) being of millions of people living along the Corredor Azul are safeguarded https://www.wetlands. by a healthy and connected wetland system. It is expected that by the end org/casestudy/corredo of this programme some 1 million hectares of wetlands will be under r-azul/ sustainable management, and production in 300,000 hectares will be guided by best production practices that avoid wetland degradation and loss. At 3,400 km in length, the Corredor Azul encompasses the fourth largest wetland system in the world, the heart of which is the Paraná River and the Paraguay River in South America.

5 Sustainabilit Environmental project “Animals from the Pantanal”. Project for Socio- http://www.bichosdop y Institute Environmental Responsibility, sponsored by Petrobras, through the antanal.org/   Petrobras Socio-environmental Program. The initiative works to increase the scientific knowledge and the preservation of important species of the Pantanal fauna, especially the Giant River Otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), fish, the various species of birds that use the rivers, and in the predators that depend on the river as the Jaguar, (Panthera onca) that lives on the banks of the Paraguay river.

6 33 civil At the Pantanal Observatory, there are efforts and administrative https://observatoriopa society cooperation combined for the capture and availability of information that ntanal.org/ organization helps to promote respect for socio-biodiversity in the region. This way, this s of Bolivia, organization aims to promote synergies between institutions and Brazil and knowledge areas, providing scientific information and traditional knowledge Paraguay to society, promoting training at various levels and providing the basis for processes of influence in decision making and public policies. This initiative is supported by the European Union. IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

№ Organizatio Brief description of Active Projects Website n

7 Centro de The CPP is a non-profit research center dedicated to generate knowledge http://cppantanal.org. Pesquisa do about wetlands so as to contribute to their sustainable use. br/ Pantanal (CPP) / Pantanal Research Center

8 Embrapa Embrapa (Brazilian Agricultural Research Corporation, linked to the Ministry https://www.embrapa. Pantanal of Agriculture, Livestock, and Food Supply) has been operating a unit in the br/pantanal Brazilian Pantanal since 1975. The unit has generated a wealth of readily available information about the region.

9 Wildlife WCS-Brasil conducts research and monitoring in the Pantanal WCS. https://brasil.wcs.org/e Conservation Publications include the Revista Ciência Pantanal. n-us/Wild- Society of Places/Pantanal.aspx Brazil (WCS- https://brasil.wcs.org/e Brasil) n-us/WCS- Brazil/Publications.asp x

10 Instituto Various. For example, The Institute donated to the Jatobazinho School http://www.institutoho Homem native fish species of the Pantanal. The Fish Culture project aims to mempantaneiro.org.br Pantaneiro decrease overfishing and increase family income, stimulating and training /index.php?pag=biz_p the population on fish farming. rodutos_Meio_Ambient e_listar https://www.facebook. com/pages/Instituto- Homem-Pantaneiro- IHP/17846413887900 8?fref=nf

11 REPAMS REPAMS is the association of owners of private protected areas in the http://www.repams.or Incentive Brazilian state of Mato Grosso do Sul (MS). Along with several partners it g.br/ Programme runs a programme to create incentives for private protected areas among for Private other activities. Protected Areas (Programa de Incentivo às RPPNs do Pantanal)

12 WWF Brasil WWF Brasil has a long history of involvement in the Pantanal. Important http://www.wwf.org.br contributions include a conservation priority setting exercise for the /natureza_brasileira/ar Pantanal and the adjacent Brazilian Cerrado (WWF Brasil, 2015). eas_prioritarias/panta nal/ http://www.wwf.org.br /natureza_brasileira/ar eas_prioritarias/panta nal/pantanal_pub/ IUCN World Heritage Outlook: https://worldheritageoutlook.iucn.org/ Pantanal Conservation Area - 2020 Conservation Outlook Assessment

REFERENCES

№ References

1 Agrotools. (2018). Relatório técnico estudo da proposta de ampliação das unidades de conservação do Pantanal Norte Mato Grosso. Documento com finalidade específica | discussão técnica: Mosaico UCs [online] Available at: https://d3nehc6yl9qzo4.cloudfront.net/downloads/relatorio_t… (Accessed 17 April 2020).

2 Alho, C.J.R. and Reis, R.E. (2017). Exposure of Fishery Resources to Environmental and Socioeconomic Threats within the Pantanal Wetland of South America. International Journal of Aquaculture and Fishery Sciences, 3(2), pp.022-029.

3 Alho, C.J.R., Mamede, S.B., Benites, M, Andrade, B.S. and Sepúlveda, J.J.O. (2019). Threats to the biodiversity of the Brazilian Pantanal due to land use and occupation. Ambiente & Sociedade, 22, pp.1- 22.

4 Aranda, R., and Aoki, C. (2018). Diversity and effect of historical inundation on bee and wasp (Hymenoptera: Apoidea, Vespoidea) communities in the Brazilian Pantanal. Journal of insect conservation, 22(3-4), pp.581-591.

5 BID. (2018). Conservación, restauración y gestión sostenible de la Caatinga, la Pampa y el Pantanal “GEF terrestre” [online] Available at: https://www.mma.gov.br/images/arquivo/80238/Conservacion%20… (Accessed 10 May 2020).

6 Bedoya, V. (2018). Exploring ecosystem services provided by the Pantanal wetland, South America: a preliminary review of methods to improve the knowledge on the benefits provided by the wetland. Internship report. MSc. Environmental Science. Wageningen University & Research, WWF [online] Available at: https://observatoriopantanal.org/wp-content/uploads/crm_per… (Accessed 20 may 2020).

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