The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has approved an $82.5 million credit to boost protection of the Brazilian Pantanal, one of the world’s largest wetlands. To be matched with local funds, the $165 million conservation effort is to be carried out by the Brazilian Environment Ministry and the country’s Environment and Natural Resources Institute (Ibama). It calls for research, monitoring, planning, public works and other work to improve water quality, regulate fishing, promote sustainable aquaculture and increase the area of protected watershed from the current 1.2 million acres (500,000 hectares) to 4.9 million acres (2 million hectares). “This was a difficult, pioneering and complex project that does credit to our institution,” IDB President Enrique Iglesias said, noting public support for conservation helped make the project... [Log in to read more]