A MapBiomas study released on Wednesday (26) revealed that the area covered by water in Brazil decreased by 1.5% in 2023, compared to the historical average recorded since 1985.
The Pantanal biome suffered a drastic reduction in its water surface area: it dried up the most proportionally in 2023, with a 61% decrease compared to the historical average recorded since 1985.
One of the largest continuous wetlands on the planet, the Pantanal biome faced severe wildfires in 2024. There were 3,262 outbreaks between January 1st and June 23, 22 times the amount recorded in the same period in 2023.
"In 2024, we didn't have a flood peak. The year has seen a peak drought, which will probably last until September. When dealing with extreme drought, the Pantanal faces fires that are difficult to control," said Eduardo Rosa, from MapBiomas.
According to the research, Brazil's water surface areas suffered monthly reductions last year, including in the Amazon and the Pampa. In 2023, the water-covered area was twice the size of Portugal.
Natural bodies of water, such as rivers and lakes, ed for 77% of the country's water surface areas in 2023; the other 23% is man-made, such as water reservoirs, hydroelectric dams, aquaculture and mining.
The data presented by MapBiomas is the result of an analysis of satellite images with the help of artificial intelligence. More than 150,000 satellite images were processed.
Climate change also affects the Amazon and the Pampa biomes
The Amazon was the second biome to lose the most water area: the reduction was 3.3 million hectares compared to the historical average. In 2023, the Amazon's water surface area was almost 12 million hectares.
In third place is the Pampa (in Brazil, this biome is only found in the state of Rio Grande do Sul), which recorded 40% less water surface area than the historical average.
Climate change aggravates the drought scenario, according to the technical coordinator of MapBiomas Água, Juliano Schirmbeck.
"While Brazil's Cerrado and Caatinga are experiencing an increase in water surface areas due to the creation of hydroelectric dams and water reservoirs, other [biomes], such as the Amazon and Pantanal, are facing a serious reduction in water, leading to significant ecological, social and economic effects. These trends, worsened by climate change, highlight the urgent need for adaptive water management strategies," Schirmbeck explained.
Intense fires in the Pantanal
The crisis Pantanal is facing has intensified with the fires that have destroyed around 600,000 hectares of the biome this year alone. On Monday (24), the government of Mato Grosso do Sul declared an emergency situation due to the severity of the fires.
June was marked by intense wildfires, which devastated a large part of the biome. In the first half of the year, the region recorded the highest number of fires since 1988, when the National Institute for Space Research (INPE, in Portuguese) began monitoring fires in Brazil.
Cerrado has increased its water surface areas due to human action
The Amazon, home to 62% of Brazil's water surface areas, has also faced a significant reduction in the area covered by water.
In 2023, the water surface areas in the Amazon reached almost 12 million hectares, 3.3 million hectares below the historical average. The water deficit has led to episodes of severe drought, with devastating consequences for aquatic life and riverside communities.
On the other hand, in the Cerrado, a biome known for its low levels of water surface areas, there has been an increase, reaching 1.6 million hectares of these areas – the highest since 1985. This rise is mainly related to new hydroelectric dams and water reservoirs.
