Latin America and the Caribbean:Who We Are


WWF Brazil

THREATS AND OPPORTUNITIES

Brazil faces major environmental challenges, with its vast natural wealth constantly under threat. Within Brazil's borders can be found some of the most over-developed and polluted places on earth (such as São Paulo), some of the poorest (in the Northeast), some of the most devastated ecoregions (Atlantic Forest), and some of the most pristine (Western Amazon). Deforestation remains a constant problem in the Amazon caused by shifting agriculture, logging, and increases in population migration. In the Atlantic Forest, where less than 8% of the original forest remains, the area has been transformed into the country's main agricultural and industrial base as well as the main population center. The Pantanal is vulnerable to the effects of deforestation, siltation, and pollution from agricultural and gold mining activities, and especially from the massive waterway transport system currently being planned. The Cerrado region has become Brazil's new agricultural frontier and vast areas have been cleared to cultivate soybean and other export crops. Elsewhere, the coastal and marine environments are threatened by the effects of overpopulation and agricultural and industrial development. The immensely rich coastal region suffers from uncontrolled development and land-based pollution.