The Pantanal is the largest tropical wetlands on earth. Some 140-190 square kilometers sprawling along Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. In 2020 it burned like never before. Logging and development in the Amazon have reduced the rains that reach the Pantanal and now the wetlands get drier. This, and changing weather patterns, creates the perfect conditions for the wildfires.
A few months later, I visited the Mato Grosso side of the Pantanal (Brazil) to make a documentary about the effects of the wildfires and the future of the place. This wetland is truly unique not only because of its environmental importance, but also because of incredibly rich culture of the people who live and work there. These are some of these people I met: the Ribeirinhos or river people, researchers, park rangers, tour guides and cattle ranchers.