INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Juliano Schirmbeck, a key researcher, blames land use shifts, settlement patterns, and extreme weather for drying out the country.The
hectares.Meanwhile, the Pantanal, a critical wetland, shrank to 366,000 hectares, down 61% since 1985, worsened by fires and drought since
Elsewhere, the Pampa gained 100,000 hectares, reaching 1.8 million, yet stays below its historical norm after a dry March and flooded
national rise of 1.5 million hectares in artificial water since 1985
ecosystems.Researchers warn this shift threatens biodiversity and water security
water wealth slipping away
The 2022 peak of 18.8 million hectares feels distant as eight of the driest years since 1985 pile up
Companies and governments watching these figures see a clear message: adapt now or face a parched future.
