Fire hits Serra do Amolar in the Pantanal and threatens biodiversity
The Serra do Amolar, recognized by UNESCO as a World Natural Heritage site, has been burning for several days after being struck by lightning in the municipality of Corumbá (MS).
The fire was identified both visually and through the Pantera system, which monitors the region. Flames are concentrated in the upper part of the mountain, at about 800 meters in altitude.
The location of the fire, at the top of the forest, makes firefighting difficult. The area is more than five hours by boat from Corumbá, near the Paraguay River, on the border between Mato Grosso do Sul and Bolivia.
Access to Serra do Amolar is only possible by air or by an eight-hour boat trip, according to Ângelo Rabello, president of the Instituto Homem Pantaneiro (IHP).
Until now, no fire had been recorded in Serra do Amolar in 2025. The Pantanal biome is considered a top priority for conservation, according to federal authorities.
“It’s very concerning because this is the first time we’ve recorded fire in Serra do Amolar, which holds a rich biodiversity,” Rabello said.
The dry season is a critical period for the Pantanal, marked by drought and high temperatures. The situation worsens with the prolonged absence of rain.
“We were hoping a light rain in the region would help extinguish the fire, but unfortunately it started to grow and spread across the higher parts of the mountain,” explained the IHP director.
According to meteorologists, there is no forecast of rain for the region, which increases the risk of the flames advancing.
The area, which serves as a corridor for Pantanal wildlife and vegetation, extends for 80 km of mountain ranges that reach nearly 1,000 meters in altitude. The territory combines characteristics of the Atlantic Forest, the Pantanal, and the Amazon, resulting in remarkable biodiversity.
“The Serra do Amolar, located in the floodplain, acts like a funnel that controls the north-south water flow, flooding bays and lagoons in the region,” explained biologist Werner Hugo Moreno.
The fire threatens species found in the mountain range, including about 3,500 plant species; 325 fish species; 53 amphibians; 98 reptiles; 656 bird species; and 159 types of mammals, according to the IHP.
The Alto Pantanal Brigade, from the IHP, is working to contain the fire. Aerial firefighting includes three Civil Defense aircraft dropping water over the burning area. A helicopter from Ibama (Brazilian Institute of the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources) will also be used to transport firefighters to the site.
Between 1985 and 2024, the Pantanal was the biome most affected by fire in Brazil. About 62% of its territory was burned, equivalent to 9.3 million hectares. Of this total, 93% was native vegetation, according to the annual fire report by MapBiomas.