The Pantanal, the world’s largest tropical wetland, is undergoing a dramatic and accelerating transformation due to climate change, deforestation, and unsustainable agricultural practices. Once a thriving ecosystem teeming with iconic wildlife like jaguars, caiman, and countless bird species, large portions of the region have been scorched by increasingly frequent and intense wildfires. This shift is not simply a natural fluctuation; it’s a crisis that threatens the Pantanal’s long-term survival.
The Changing Cycles
The Pantanal historically experiences natural wet and dry seasons. However, human activity is distorting these cycles. Deforestation, driven by the expansion of farmland, creates drier conditions and more fuel for fires. Meanwhile, climate change exacerbates the problem, bringing hotter temperatures and prolonged droughts. In 2020, wildfires consumed over 25% of the Pantanal’s vegetation cover, and a similarly severe fire season occurred in 2024. This demonstrates a clear trend toward more frequent and destructive fire events.
Documenting the Devastation
Two photographers, Lalo de Almeida and Luciano Candisani, have captured this stark reality. Their work, featured in the Water Pantanal Fire exhibition at the Science Museum in London (opening February 6th and running through May), presents a jarring contrast. Candisani’s photos showcase the Pantanal’s lush aquatic life, while de Almeida documents the devastating impact of fires and the wider effects of climate change.
The Pantanal’s fires are not merely a regional disaster; they represent a global trend of escalating environmental crises caused by human activity.
The exhibition serves as a powerful reminder that even the largest and most resilient ecosystems can be pushed to the brink. Without drastic changes in land management and global climate action, the Pantanal risks being permanently altered, losing its biodiversity and ecological integrity.
