International research network: "Sustainable management of water in the Pantanal"

On this webpage we will keep you informed about the activities of this international research network which started in October 2008. The first phase of the project (2008-2010) involves scientists from Scotland and Brazil (with parnters in Germany, Holland and Canada), who work together to explore the potential for modelling, informed data capture and scenario analysis to be used in a participatory way to inform future policy-making in the Pantanal, a highly vulnerable ecosystem of global significance.

The initial activities of the network will be focused on the development of a conceptual model for the Cuiaba River, in the northern section of the Pantanal. The conceptual model will facilitate the subsequent development of a process model of the hydrology and pollutant hydrochemistry of the region. The process model will eventually provide pollutant source apportionment and a heightened understanding of the hydrological and source controls on the ecological status of the water.

The hydrological focus would be on the prediction of the extent and dynamics of the ‘flood wave’, which occurs when the principal rivers of the region overtop their restricting levees, taking into account data on groundwater levels, soil moisture deficits and local anecdotal data on response to flooding. The chemical focus would be on the transport and transformation of nutrients delivered to the water by urban and rural sources. The ecological focus would be on identifying stress metrics for the ecology as well as anecdotal data from local landowners and stakeholders.

For more information about the network, please contact to Dr. Antonio Ioris (Aberdeen University and ACES) at geo539@abdn.ac.uk or +44 1224 273703 or Dr. Andy Vinten (The Macaulay Institute) at a.vinten@macaulay.ac.uk.

Financial support from The Leverhulme Trust to the activities of the international research network is kindly acknowledged.

NETWORK PARTICIPANTS: Aberdeen University, The Macaulay Institute, Pantanal Research Centre (CPP), based at the Federal University of Mato Grosso (UFMT), Université du Québec à Montréal (UQAM), Federal University of Mato Grosso do Sul (UFMS), Brazilian Agriculture Research Corporation (Embrapa), Mato Grosso Environment Agency (SEMA-MT), The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Alterra (Holland).

Read more about the International Network from The Macaulay Institute