The Pantanal is the world's largest freshwater wetland ecosystem, spanning parts of Brazil, Boliva and Paraguay. Housing the greatest concentration of flora and fauna in the Americas, it stands as an ecological paradise and a natural wonder of outstanding beauty. During the wet season, flood waters pour into the delta from the highlands, raising water levels by several meters before they recede again. The annual flood pulse attracts many of the region's charismatic species including jaguars, hyacinth macaws and giant otters.

The Pantanal is recognised as a World Heritage Site by the IUCN and a Ramsar Site of International Importance. Further areas are designated as National Parks, although the area suffers nonetheless from water pollution, dams, mining, road construction, charcoal production and the advancing agricultural frontier.

E-mail timaldred@naturepl.com for more images and information

Single-photographer portfolios from this region can be browsed under the search term ^Staffan Widstrand Pantanal^.

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