Study reveals higher conversion of native vegetation in the plateau of the Pantanal basin – WWF Brasil

Report on Land Use and Ecosystem Integrity in the Upper Paraguay Hydrographic Basin: A Sustainable Development Goals Perspective

1.0 Introduction and Alignment with SDG 17

A biennial monitoring study conducted by a consortium of non-governmental organizations (NGOs), including WWF-Brazil, Conservation International, and others, analyzes the dynamics of land use and vegetation cover in the Upper Paraguay Hydrographic Basin (BAP). This collaborative effort, which also involves government research agencies, exemplifies the multi-stakeholder partnerships essential for achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals). The study’s primary objective is to provide critical data for environmental policy-making to conserve the Pantanal, the world’s largest floodplain, and its vital water sources, directly supporting key environmental SDGs.

2.0 State of Terrestrial Ecosystems (SDG 15)

The report provides a critical assessment of the region’s ecological health, offering a stark contrast between the basin’s two primary zones. These findings are fundamental to tracking progress towards SDG 15: Life on Land, which aims to protect, restore, and promote the sustainable use of terrestrial ecosystems.

• Pantanal Floodplain: This area remains significantly preserved, with 86.2% of its original vegetation intact. This indicates a relatively healthy ecosystem, crucial for maintaining the region’s rich biodiversity.
• Plateau (Cerrado Highlands): In contrast, the plateau, which contains the headwaters supplying the Pantanal, shows extensive degradation. Only 40.7% of its native vegetation remains, posing a significant threat to the entire basin’s hydrological and ecological stability.

3.0 Land Conversion and Threats to Water Resources (SDG 6 & SDG 15)

The study quantifies the rate of habitat loss, highlighting the urgent need for action to halt land degradation and protect water-related ecosystems, which are central tenets of SDG 15.3 and SDG 6.6.

1. Conversion Rates (2008-2010): During the monitoring period, the conversion rate of native vegetation for human use was 1.56% in the plateau, nearly double the rate of 0.80% observed in the floodplain.
2. Cumulative Loss: As of 2010, total conversion of native areas reached 58.2% in the plateau, compared to 13.8% in the floodplain. This extensive conversion in the highlands directly threatens the quality and quantity of freshwater flowing into the Pantanal, jeopardizing both ecosystem health and water security.

4.0 Drivers of Degradation and the Need for Sustainable Production (SDG 12)

The report identifies the primary economic activities responsible for land conversion, underscoring the necessity of transitioning towards sustainable consumption and production patterns as outlined in SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production.

• Cattle Ranching: This remains the most significant driver of land use change. In the plateau, pastureland accounts for 43.9% of the converted area.
• Agriculture: Cropland is also expanding, particularly in the plateau, where it increased from 9% to 10% of the converted area between 2008 and 2010.

The findings call for the promotion of sustainable economic alternatives, such as certified organic beef ranching and other sustainable production practices, to decouple economic development from environmental degradation.

5.0 Policy Impact and Governance

The data generated by this monitoring initiative serves as a crucial tool for evidence-based policy. The report was formally presented to the government of Mato Grosso do Sul, which acknowledged its importance for establishing effective environmental preservation policies. This engagement between civil society and government strengthens governance for sustainable development and supports the creation of policies that value and preserve natural heritage while exploring new socio-economic opportunities aligned with the SDGs.

Analysis of Sustainable Development Goals in the Article

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

The article highlights issues directly related to several Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). The primary focus on monitoring land use, vegetation cover, and ecosystem preservation connects strongly with goals concerning life on land, water, sustainable production, and partnerships.

• SDG 15: Life on Land

  This is the most prominent SDG in the article. The entire study is about monitoring the “dynamics of change in soil use and occupation and in vegetation cover” in the Pantanal and Cerrado ecosystems. It directly addresses the conservation of terrestrial ecosystems, halting biodiversity loss, and combating land degradation caused by human activities like cattle ranching and agriculture.

• SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

  The article emphasizes the study of the “Upper Paraguay Hydrographic Basin,” noting that the highlands (plateau) are where “most of the freshwater sources supplying the Pantanal are located.” Protecting these water-related ecosystems is crucial for the health of the entire Pantanal floodplain, linking the study’s objectives to the protection of water resources.

• SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

  The article touches upon the need for sustainable economic alternatives to current land use practices. It mentions WWF-Brazil’s support for “certified organic beef cattle ranching and sustainable production practices” as initiatives with “lesser impact upon the region,” connecting the conservation efforts to promoting sustainable production patterns.

• SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

  The monitoring study itself is a prime example of a multi-stakeholder partnership. The article details the collaboration between several NGOs (“Conservation International, Avina Foundation, SOS Pantanal Institute, WWF-Brazil”), a government research agency (“Embrapa Pantanal”), and supporting organizations. This partnership aims to provide data to support “environmental policies and actions,” demonstrating a collaborative effort to achieve sustainable development.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

Based on the article’s focus, several specific SDG targets can be identified:

1. SDG 15: Life on Land

   • Target 15.1: Ensure the conservation and sustainable use of terrestrial and inland freshwater ecosystems. The study’s goal to monitor and support the conservation of the Pantanal (the “largest floodplain on Earth”) and the Cerrado areas directly aligns with this target.
   • Target 15.3: Combat desertification, restore degraded land and soil. The monitoring of the “conversion rate of native areas for entropic use” and the expansion of pastures and agriculture are directly related to tracking and ultimately combating land degradation.
   • Target 15.5: Take urgent action to reduce the degradation of natural habitats and halt the loss of biodiversity. The article highlights the Pantanal as a “birth place of wealthy biodiversity” and the study’s data on habitat conversion (e.g., “in the plateau it went from 43.5% up to 43.9%” for pastures) is essential for addressing this target.
   • Target 15.9: Integrate ecosystem and biodiversity values into national and local planning. The act of delivering the study’s results to the Mato Grosso do Sul state vice-governor to “help to establish policies for environmental preservation” is a direct implementation of this target.

2. SDG 6: Clean Water and Sanitation

   • Target 6.6: Protect and restore water-related ecosystems. The study’s focus on the entire “Upper Paraguay Hydrographic Basin,” including the plateau where freshwater sources are located, is a direct effort to monitor and inform the protection of these vital water-related ecosystems.

3. SDG 12: Responsible Consumption and Production

   • Target 12.2: Achieve the sustainable management and efficient use of natural resources. The mention of supporting “sustainable projects in the region, such as the certified organic beef cattle ranching” points towards efforts to achieve more sustainable management of land and agricultural resources.

4. SDG 17: Partnerships for the Goals

   • Target 17.17: Encourage and promote effective public, public-private and civil society partnerships. The collaboration described between multiple NGOs, a government agency (Embrapa), and the state government of Mato Grosso do Sul is a clear example of the civil society and public partnerships this target aims to foster.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

Yes, the article provides several quantitative and qualitative indicators that can be used to measure progress.

• Indicators for SDG 15

  • Percentage of original vegetation cover remaining: The article explicitly states that “86.2% of its original vegetation is maintained” in the floodplain and “40.7%” in the plateau. This is a direct indicator for measuring the extent of terrestrial ecosystems (related to Target 15.1).
  • Conversion rate of native areas: The study measures the “conversion rate of native areas for entropic use,” which was “0.80% in the floodplain and 1.56% in the plateau” during the 2008-2010 period. This serves as a direct indicator of land degradation and habitat loss (related to Targets 15.3 and 15.5).
  • Proportion of land converted for specific uses: The article provides detailed figures on land use change, such as the conversion for pastures increasing from “11.1% up to 11.3%” in the floodplain and for agriculture increasing from “9% to 10%” in the plateau. These figures are specific indicators of the drivers of land degradation.

• Indicators for SDG 6

  • Health and extent of a hydrographic basin: The entire monitoring study of the “Upper Paraguay Hydrographic Basin” serves as a large-scale indicator. The data on vegetation cover in the plateau, where freshwater sources originate, is a key metric for assessing the health of this water-related ecosystem (related to Target 6.6).

• Indicators for SDG 17

  • Number and type of participating organizations: The article lists the specific NGOs, research agencies, and government bodies involved in the partnership. The fact that the data from the first study was “used by 72 research institutions, universities, governmental agencies, and non-governmental organizations” is a powerful quantitative indicator of the partnership’s reach and effectiveness (related to Target 17.17).

4. Summary Table of SDGs, Targets, and Indicators

Source: wwf.org.br