Pantanal: 96% of fires extinguished or under control
During a trip to the Pantanal, Minister for the Environment and Climate Change, Marina Silva, stated that 96 percent of the fires in the region have been extinguished or are under control. "This is a moment to celebrate, but we must keep our teams mobilized. Currently, 56 percent of the 55 fires have been extinguished, 40 percent are being controlled, and 4 percent are still being actively fought."
The minister emphasized the importance of mobilizing firefighting teams, noting that a heatwave with low relative humidity is expected to begin next weekend, increasing the risk of new fires. "We must stay mobilized to save the Pantanal, our biodiversity, and our economic systems, which are being threatened by the climate emergency," she said.
On Tuesday (Jul. 16), Marina Silva visited the Pantanal with Budget and Planning Minister Simone Tebet and Integration and Regional Development Minister Waldez Góes. They were there to oversee joint efforts by federal, state, and municipal governments to combat fires in the biome.
Tebet reaffirmed President Lula's commitment to ensuring the necessary resources to combat climate emergencies, as well as the federal government's dedication to environmental issues and sustainability. She noted that the federal government had allocated an extraordinary credit of BRL 137 million to support the efforts of the Ministries of Environment, Defense, and Justice and Public Security in the Pantanal, in addition to another BRL 100 million from the Environment budget.
Minister Marina Silva explained that the federal government's firefighting efforts are not new but the result of ongoing prevention and planning. "Our efforts began on January 23, 2023, when we reinstated the Permanent Interministerial Commission to Control and Combat Deforestation," said Silva, highlighting the importance of collaboration among federal, state, and municipal governments.
Governor Eduardo Riedel of Mato Grosso do Sul, along with Minister Waldez Góes, stressed the significance of integrated planning and the joint task force of all government levels in achieving positive outcomes in the region. "This is a path we must continue to pursue," said Góes.
