the catchment of the Pantanal. More effluents will be discharged into the river system of the wetland. Savannahs with a high biodiversity will be transformed to sugar cane plantations. ECOTROPICA and GNF call upon the government to suspend this decision in order to avoid the severe negative impacts on the sensitive ecosystems of the Pantanal. As a result of the rising demand for biofuels in Europe and North America, Brazil intends to increase the production of ethanol, which is based on sugar cane, from annually 21 billion litres to 30 billion litres in the year 2010.
Soy production in Brazil is expanding as well. Apart from the use as forage crop, soy bean is suitable for biofuel production. Brazil is world’s second largest soy producer with 50 million tons a year. National soy oil consumption is estimated at 3.2 million tons, and exports should amount to 2.2 million tons in 2007.
Soy and sugar cane plantations cover already waste areas, which formerly were forested savannahs with a high biodiversity, called Cerrado. An intact Cerrado highland is of essential importance for the water balance of the natural lowland Pantanal floodplains. Deforestation and soil compaction lead to erosion and a change in the hydrological system. Pesticides and fertilizers are flushed out polluting the tributaries of the wetland. Experience shows that peasants do not benefit from soy and sugar cane production which is mainly a highly mechanized, export-orientated agro-industrial model. "There should be no soy and sugar cane production for biofuels in the catchment of the Pantanal," says Marion Hammerl, President of GNF. "Due to the destruction of sensitive ecosystems biofuels from the Pantanal region are no solution for solving the energy crisis in Europe and North America."
