The Pantanal in southwest Brazil is the world's largest continuous wetland, extending for at least 140,000 km2 and host to a spectacular array of flora and fauna with over 650 species of birds and 80 species of mammals including parrots, toucans, jaguar, maned wolf, giant otter, and capybara. CSF is helping former course participants Leonardo Hasenclever, now with the United Nations Development Program's unit on Pantanal fisheries, and Eduardo Garcia, of the Wildlife and Environmental Education Research Society (Paraná), conduct a contingent valuation study of tourism on the Pantanal Scenic Parkway to determine its potential for generating revenue for conservation. Ninety-nine percent of the Pantanal is privately owned, mostly by large cattle ranches, and in recent years the Pantanal has come under increased threat from deforestation, upland contamination, poaching, overfishing, and uncontrolled tourism.

The Pantanal Parkway was created in 1993 in recognition of the exuberant flora and fauna of the area. Last year a management committee was created for the road. Leonardo and Eduardo's study is the first to gather primary data on the characteristics and attitudes of the parkway's users and to inform policy decisions taken by the new management committee.