The Pantanal is a vast wetland located almost in the center of the South American continent. There are many rivers and large puddles, surrounded by grasslands and lush forests. The Pantanal is home to many different types of plants and animals, making it seem like a paradise for living creatures.
Recently, however, more and more grass and trees are being burned in order to convert the wetlands into pastures. Some of those fires have spread to the forests, resulting in large forest fires. Animals caught in the fires have lost their shelter and food, making it difficult for them to reproduce. Some animals may soon become extinct and be gone forever.
The fires not only destroy the local ecosystem, but also increase CO2 (carbon dioxide) in the air; more atomospheric CO2 causes the earth's temperature to rise and accelerates global warming. Worse yet, as wetlands disappear, CO2 stored in the soil decreases, further accelerateing global warming.
