Brazil expands Pantanal reserves by 257,531 acres to protect jaguar habitats

In the Pantanal, where rivers overflow onto vast floodplains and jaguars wander wetlands and forests, wildlife conservation is increasingly reliant on protecting the landscapes that sustain it.

In March 2026, Brazil took a huge step toward that goal by expanding two massive conservation areas by a combined 257,531 acres.

The development strengthens protection for one of the world’s most important jaguar habitats while contributing to the protection of threatened species, freshwater ecosystems and communities whose livelihoods depend on the wetlands.