With rapid and continual development in South America, many environmental problems have arisen. Among these is the rapid deforestation of habitats that are rich in biodiversity. South American countries have witnessed severe areas of deforestation in recent decades while trying to expand their economies. One such area is the Pantanal, the largest wetlands region in the world, that expands into parts of Brazil, Bolivia and Paraguay. The British charity organization World Land Trust has provided hope in the conservation of part of this area in Paraguay with its purchase of nearly 10,000 acres of wetland area in the northern part of the country. The World Land Trust aims to protect biologically diverse habitats in different parts of the world. The area they are protecting this time is home to 117 different species of mammals and 600 species of birds. As a consequence of the deforestation and development in the region, much of the wetland habitat has been destroyed and the biodiversity has been severely threatened. They hope to preserve the habitat for these species.
The Paraguayan organization Guyra has partnered with the World Land Trust to ensure the preservation of the wetlands. This goal of this organization is to preserve the habitat needed for the birds of the country to survive. Their work takes place throughout the country, with one of their specific stations located in the Pantanal wetlands.
This preservation provides hope for the environmental community in that an international conservation charity has been able to successfully partner with a local organization to preserve the biodiversity of a region in the developing world.
