Two National Protected Areas are Expanded in Brazil’s Pantanal

An additional 257,531 acres (104,219 hectares) of the Brazilian Pantanal – the world’s largest tropical wetland — are now protected with the March 2026 expansion of the Pantanal Mato-Grossense National Park and the Taiamã Ecological Station.

Expansion of the Pantanal Mato-Grossense National Park, Brazil

The expansion of the Pantanal Mato-Grossense National Park (PNPM) by 116,782 acres on March 23, 2026, protects one of the world’s most important jaguar habitats and the heart of the Pantanal. This expansion in the state of Mato Grosso brings the total area of PNPM to 450,653 acres and enhances connectivity with other protected areas at the confluence of its primary rivers in the upper Paraguay River Basin, including the San Matias Natural Management Area in Bolivia. 

The PNPM has one of the world’s highest jaguar (Panthera onca) population densities at ~8 individuals per 100 km², and in addition to this iconic species, protects the habitat of the giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), giant anteater (Myrmecophaga tridactyla), and giant armadillo (Priodontes maximus), among other notable wildlife. The wetlands of the expanded area are important bird habitat, protecting threatened species such as the vulnerable cujubi (Aburria cujubi) and red-tailed parakeet (Pyrrhura molinae). Additionally, PNPM’s lagoons are nurseries for commercially important fish species such as “pacu” and “pintado,” sustaining the livelihoods of artisanal fishermen throughout the upper Paraguay River Basin.

This expansion reinforces the protection of wetlands that are essential for water regulation, biodiversity conservation, and resilience against extreme climate events, such as droughts and wildfires.

Expansion of the Taiamã Ecological Station, Brazil

The expansion of the Taiamã Ecological Station by 140,749 acres on March 23, 2026, protects wetlands, flooded tropical forests, and savanna within Brazil’s Pantanal in the state of Mato Grosso. This expansion brings the total area of the Taiamã Ecological Station to 168,323 acres and protects the habitat of important species such as the: jaguar (Panthera onca), giant otter (Pteronura brasiliensis), maned wolf (Chrysocyon brachyurus), marsh deer (Blastocerus dichotomus), pampas deer (Ozotoceros bezoarticus), brown-backed bearded saki (Chiropotes israelita), and black howler monkey (Alouatta caraya), among other species.

The Taiamã Ecological Station improves connectivity to a mosaic of nearby protected areas in the Pantanal, including the Pantanal Wildlife Reserve, and protects lagoons that maintain water flow during both dry and flood seasons — directly supporting fish stock recovery. 

The expansion of the Taiamã Ecological Station will help prevent wildfires and reduce the losses from recurring wildfires that are on the rise in the Pantanal, having increased by as much as 529% in 2024 as compared to the historical average.

Acknowledgements: These expansions were made possible by Brazil’s Ministry of the Environment and Instituto Chico Mendes de Conservação da Biodiversidade with technical assistance from Rede Pró-UC, Aliança Pantanal, SOS Pantanal, Onçafari, and Panthera Brasil. Financial support was provided by Andes Amazon Fun and Re:Wild.