![Fires in Brazil's Pantanal push wetlands community to limit](https://www.americanmarconiwirelessnews.com/media/shared/articles/d2/8b/1b/Fires-in-Brazil-s-Pantanal-push-wet-107660.jpg)
-
Trump formally named Republican candidate, picks right-wing Vance as VP
-
Young Chinese seek alternative jobs in shifting economy
-
Harry Kewell fired by Japan club Yokohama F Marinos
-
Tens of thousands to welcome Mbappe to Real Madrid
-
Beijingers feel the pinch as economic data disappoints
-
The unlikely new lawmakers in the EU parliament
-
'Shogun' v 'The Bear'? Hit TV shows await Emmy nominations
-
Far right to seek greater influence in EU parliament
-
Skater 'really stoked' to become Finland's youngest-ever Olympian
-
MLS bans top goal scorer Arango four matches for harassment
-
Rwanda's Kagame cruises to crushing election victory
-
Dow ends at record as luxury share weakness hits European bourses
-
Israel air, artillery strikes hit Gaza
-
Colombian football federation president arrested: police
-
Spain celebrates Euro 2024 heroes
-
Mexican league's select lineup set for MLS All-Star Game
-
Secret Service agrees to independent probe over Trump shooting
-
PGA to visit Japan, Mexico, Bermuda among late-year events
-
World Aquatics to strengthen testing of Chinese swimmers at Olympics
-
Oh my (long) days: Melting ice caps slow Earth's spin
-
Heavy rains kill at least 35 in eastern Afghanistan: official
-
France's leading goalscorer Giroud ends international career
-
Recent data adds to Fed confidence on cooling inflation: Powell
-
Open champion Harman prepares for defence of 'coolest trophy'
-
Biden campaign upended by Trump shooting, for now
-
US Secret Service under pressure after Trump shooting
-
Copa chaos raises concerns for 2026 World Cup
-
Pogacar expects Tour de France battle to explode in final week
-
Shaqiri ends Switzerland career after 125 caps
-
Trump set to unveil VP pick, days after shooting
-
Wall Street stocks advance on expectation of Trump election win
-
Brazil police mount new operation in Rio favelas
-
US Secret Service agrees to review after Trump assassination bid
-
Nadal returns to competition with Bastad doubles win
-
Republicans gather for convention, eager to hail Trump after shooting
-
Kenya's Ruto accuses Ford Foundation of backing protests
-
Judge dismisses Trump classified documents case
-
Zelensky says Russia should attend second Ukraine summit
-
Wall Street stocks advance after Trump shooting
-
Female genital mutilation: entrenched ritual with devastating effects
-
Gambia MPs uphold ban on female genital mutilation
-
Tour de France: Who is saying what
-
Somalia cafe attack kills nine during Euro final
-
Stocks wobble, dollar mixed as traders weigh Trump shooting
-
Argentina's Copa America victory celebrations marred by violence
-
Swatch profits plunge as China luxury crisis bites
-
Spain's triumph a saving grace for disappointing Euro 2024
-
Israel hits Gaza from land, sea and air as Hamas halts talks
-
Thomas Mueller ends Germany career following Euro 2024
-
Bangladesh PM's helicopter-flying servant sparks graft probe
![Fires in Brazil's Pantanal push wetlands community to limit](https://www.americanmarconiwirelessnews.com/media/shared/articles/d2/8b/1b/Fires-in-Brazil-s-Pantanal-push-wet-107660.jpg)
Fires in Brazil's Pantanal push wetlands community to limit
A riverside community in Brazil's Pantanal wetlands narrowly escaped raging wildfires last month, but some say the record-setting blazes -- still burning nearby -- are compounding threats to their way of life.
"The river was the only thing separating us from the flames. On the other side, the fire devastated everything," said Virginia Paes, a local leader in the Baia Negra Environmental Protection Area (APA), where 28 families live.
Four years ago, similar fires blazed through the 5,400-hectare (13,300-acre) preserve along the Paraguay River, in southwest Brazil's Mato Grosso do Sul state.
"We were just trying to recover from the 2020 fire, which devastated our Pantanal. We had not fully recovered and now we are facing this again," Paes, a volunteer firefighter and president of the APA's Association of Women Producers, told AFP.
Though homes and lives were spared, the 53-year-old said, dense smoke from the fires made breathing and daily routines difficult.
This year's fires set January-June records in the Pantanal, a massive area of tropical wetlands that is home to millions of caimans, parrots, giant otters and the world's highest density of jaguars.
The Baia Negra APA, just outside the border city of Corumba and neighboring Ladario, is the first created in the biodiversity-rich Pantanal allowing for sustainable resource exploitation.
The population there lives off fishing, craft-making, and a robust eco-tourism industry, among other jobs.
- 'Guardians' under threat –
According to the Corumba social assistance office and the NGO Ecoa, in 2020, 651 families lived in the riverside city and Ladario.
These "traditional communities of the Pantanal are the true guardians of the ecosystems they manage," said Andre Luiz Siqueira, Director of Programs and Projects at the NGO Ecoa.
"They are the ones that suffer the most impacts from the fires," he warned.
"I am concerned that in a few years we could have climate displaced people in the biome."
On the shore of Bracinho Island, which was burned in fires last month, three fishermen try their luck.
According to them, fishing has become more difficult due to fires poisoning the fish and make the activity difficult.
A heavy drought, which scientists say has exacerbated this year's fires, has also dropped the water-level in the river.
"Everything disappeared: the fish, the bait," 33-year-old Marcelo Henrique told AFP.
He said he used to live off fishing, but has now taken a job in a steel mill in Ladario.
"The bays dried up... Before there were 30, 40 boats circulating here. Now you barely see any."
- Evening curfew –
In his cabin off the MS 428 state highway, Renato Andrade remembers better days when hunting and fishing were abundant -- and threats from jaguars more rare.
The 52-year-old told AFP that after the 2020 fire, capybaras -- the natural prey of jaguars -- became "scarce."
"Before, there was no talk of jaguar attacks nearby. Now, I hear roars around the house. I can't have dogs, we've lost count of how many were eaten by jaguars," he said.
Fearing for his own life, he said he has changed his daily routine.
"At night, now you have to stay inside the house. After 6:30 pm, no one wants to be outside" over fears of attacks.
He said he has also stopped fishing alone at night, like he used to do.
"I can't or I will end up a jaguar's dinner."
P.Martin--AMWN