Pontes Pantaneiras coalition – connecting people, culture, and biodiversity for sustainability; promotes positive changes that value the Pantanal and the pantaneiros, respecting their rich cultural heritage and natural capital, and strengthening collaboration between the region’s diverse stakeholders.
Photo Credit: André Bittar
Pontes Pantaneiras emerges to create spaces for multisectoral dialogue and to identify, in a participatory way, strategies regarding economic development, biodiversity conservation and promotion of Pantanal culture.
Established in 2022, Pontes Pantaneiras is led by IPÊ – the Institute for Ecological Research (IPE), Embrapa Pantanal, the Smithsonian Institute, and University College London (UCL), involving also several local and national partners.
The coalition operates in three main areas, which represent its first steps in bringing together various sectors of society, individuals, and institutions connected to sustainable biome use:
The 1st Pontes Pantaneiras Forum, a non-profit, open event, took place in August 2023 in Campo Grande. It is considered one of the largest conservation events ever held for the Pantanal in the capital of Mato Grosso do Sul, Brazil, gathering 538 participants across more than 10 sessions, with over 100 speakers – See the schedule of the 1st Pontes Pantaneiras Forum.
The 1st Forum brought together researchers, academics, cattle ranchers, educators, cultural producers, non-governmental organizations, entrepreneurs, students, representatives from state and federal public sectors, indigenous peoples, and traditional communities. The goal was to discuss solutions and possibilities for a sustainable future in the Pantanal, with a focus on success stories that highlight the region’s cultural heritage, biodiversity conservation, and biome development.
The 2nd Pontes Pantaneiras Forum will take place in Cuiabá, the capital of Mato Grosso, Brazil, in 2025.
Photo Credit: André Bittar
Integration between science and public policies in discussing and recommending strategies for a collaborative plan for sustainability and conservation of the territory.
The 1st Pontes Pantaneiras Laboratory took place in May 2024, in Campo Grande, Mato Grosso do Sul, with 82 participants. The event highlighted the synergies between science and sustainability practices in the Pantanal, discussing how science can better support management and public policies, and conversely, how managers and decision-makers can contribute to science.
Check out the report from the 1st Pontes Pantaneiras Laboratory.
Development of strategies to enhance the sustainability of cattle ranching in the Pantanal, in collaboration with the ranchers. The goal is to identify concerns, discuss indicators of sustainability, explore the possibility of certification programs and sustainability incentives, support the articulation of local governance, and add value to the natural capital that the pantaneiros keep within their properties. Discussions are framed around sustainability strategies for enhancing the production chain while recognizing and expanding existing networks and initiatives in the Pantanal.
In addition to conducting dialogues to identify strategies for Pantanal cattle ranching, technical support will be provided in adopting sustainability indicators and promoting sustainable cattle ranching.
See the report on the Sustainable Cattle Ranching Workshops (2023 and 2024).
Photo Credit: André Bittar
Discussion about strategies for managing Conserved Areas in the Pantanal. Initially, it concentrates on four public protected areas — Pantanal Mato Grossense National Park, Rio Negro State Park, Encontro das Águas State Park, and Guirá State Park — as well as Private Natural Heritage Reserves.
Pontes Pantaneiras supports the implementation of strategies for the management of these areas, aiming at their conservation and sustainability. Additionally, other processes for conserved areas are discussed for the Pantanal.
See the report on the Pantanal Protected Areas Management Effectiveness Discussion Workshop (2023).
Photo Credit: André Nunes
Ágora Comunicação Estratégica e Assuntos Públicos
William Penna
Igor Lamy
Allyne de Antoni
imprensaipe@agora.site
