Protecting Threatened Species in the Bolivian Pantanal

Timeframe: 2019 - 2022
Country/Region: Bolivia
Partner: Asociación Amigos de Doñana

The Pantanal region is located in the centre of South America and is shared by Bolivia, Brazil and Paraguay. It is one of the most biodiverse wetlands in the world and one of the most intact and diverse environments on the entire planet. It’s also one of the world’s most important ecosystems showcasing a big variety of fauna and open breath-taking landscapes. For these reasons, and because of its uniqueness, the conservation of the Pantanal is of high international priority.

Compared to other ecosystems, the Pantanal is not yet in a critical state, undamaged and we believe it is a perfect moment to intervene to create a working conservation model before the external anthropic driven pressures become unsustainable. Fondation Segré decided to focus on the Bolivian side of the Pantanal as it is the lesser known part of the ecosystem and because of the services it provides such as regulating the floods and droughts of an extensive area of the eastern side of the country.

Our partner for this project, Asociación Amigos de Doñana, aims to promote wildlife conservation and support biodiversity with the participation of large number of stakeholders. In particular, the conservation activities will focus in the existing Pantanal Biological Station (PBS) and will expand into a new surrounding Buffer Zone which includes an area of large privately-owned ranches. It is therefore crucial to engage with the landowners to raise awareness about the need to eliminate all illegal activities and to promote the direct protection of wildlife species and habitats. Other activities will range from improving and building infrastructures, boosting the surveillance of the area through patrols and camera traps, to promoting education programs and purchasing cattle.