On August 17-25, 2003 the Rede Pantanal (Pantanal Network) coordinated the second Expedition along Paraguay River, from Cáceres (MT) to Corumbá (MS). The objective was to register and discuss the major threats to that river. Together, Paraguay and Paraná rivers form a navegable river 3,400 km long, with no dams.  EPI was there.

This initiative, promoted by Rede Pantanal (Ecoa, OCCA, Vida Pantaneira in MS and ICV and Paróquia Cristo Trabalhador in MT), is part of a project called Actions for Upper Paraguay River Protection, sponsored by The Netherlands Committee-IUCN/SWP, and supported by WWF-Brazil, Pantanal Program and Everglades Pantanal Initiative (EPI). Other participants were representatives of IDB-Brazil and UNEMAT. Pantanal National Park director and representatives of Ecologic Station Taiamã, both from IBAMA, and the private protected area Acurizal team also participated in some activities. From Bolívia WWF and National Parks Service (SERNAP) joined the group for few days. From Paraguay, NGO Sobrevivência was present and from Argentina, NGOs Proteger and Foro Ecologista de Paraná. Other participants were from United States (Florida International University- FIU, Tropical Rivers Alliance –TRA, Kellogg Foundation, and a New York Times writer) and from The Netherlands (IUCN, BothEnds and IICD).

During the trip, participants had access, discussed and approved a proposal for a Wetlands System along Paraguay-Paraná (Medium and Lower) Rivers, as it was proposed in the workshop Knowing to Preserve, June, 2003. Everglades Pantanal Initiative has participated actively in the process in both events, with a proposal of a Data Base, with Rede Pantanal, on the organizations, projects and protected areas of the System.

Photos in this page were taken by Maria do Carmo Zinato, during the expedition. They show the beauty and greatness of this wetland, as well as how fragile it can be.

[more pictures]