Pantanal Conservation and Research Initiative
|Location||Pantanal wetlands, Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil||Project Focus||Ecology|
|Study Species||International mammals||Staff Contact|
The protection of wetlands and related biodiversity is considered of global importance. The Pantanal is the world's largest freshwater wetland and in recent years it has become increasingly threatened by large development programmes and changes in land management practices.
Since 2005, the RZSS Pantanal Conservation and Research
initiative has been conducting scientific research to create,
implement and evaluate conservation actions and sustainable land
management strategies. Results from the Pantanal are used to
promote conservation throughout Brazil and internationally.
Find our more about the use of camera traps as a key tool in wildlife research...
It is also featured on Mongabay.com
RZSS in partnership with IPE (a Brazilian NGO, Institute for Ecological Research) are conducting an ecological study on the secretive giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus) about which virtually nothing is known.
Follow Arnaud's video diaries from the Pantanal as he searches for the elusive Giant Armadillo...
Over 200 years ago a much less charismatic and potential menace was introduced to the Pantanal: the feral pig (Sus scrofa). The scientific literature fully documents the negative ecological and socio-economic consequences of their presence in different areas of the world.
This is a rapid method to evaluate and understand resource use of both domestic and wild herbivores and is particularly urgent since ranching activities are intensifying and destroying important wildlife habitat. RZSS and EMBRAPA Pantanal have collaborated to create this method over a six year period and the key was launched at the end of 2010.
Arnaud Desbiez (RZSS Regional Coordinator) is the convener of the Brazilian Network of the IUCN/SSC Conservation Breeding Specialist Group (CBSG). CBSG Brazil assists and brings people together to find common ground on difficult conservation problems and to help develop conservation actions and management plans for threatened species.
Species Conservation Planning Sub-Committee:
Arnaud Desbiez (RZSS Regional Coordinator) represents RZSS on the Species Conservation Planning Sub-Committee (SCPSC) of the IUCN Species Survival Commission.
Links to web media related to the Pantanal Initiative:
Giant Armadillo - http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/14993426