Thirsty Brazil: Water Shrinks Twice São Paulo’s Size

Brazil lost 400,000 hectares of water surface in 2024, surpassing twice São Paulo’s 152,000-hectare footprint, MapBiomas Água reports.

This 2% drop from 18.3 million hectares in 2023 to 17.9 million hectares alarms experts tracking the nation’s water decline since 1985. Juliano Schirmbeck, a key researcher, blames land use shifts, settlement patterns, and extreme weather for drying out the country.

The Amazon, holding 10.9 million hectares or 61% of Brazil’s water, shed 1.1 million hectares since 2023. Two brutal drought years, including an early 2024 dry spell, hit basins like Tapajós and Rio Negro, which lost over 50,000 hectares.

Meanwhile, the Pantanal, a critical wetland, shrank to 366,000 hectares, down 61% since 1985, worsened by fires and drought since 2018. Elsewhere, the Pampa gained 100,000 hectares, reaching 1.8 million, yet stays below its historical norm after a dry March and flooded May.

The Caatinga grew by 6,000 hectares to 981,000, its best in a decade, though drought lingers in São Francisco’s basin. The Cerrado’s 1.6 million hectares held steady, but artificial dams now dominate 60% of its water, up from 37%.

Brazil’s Water Crisis

The Atlantic Forest, at 2.2 million hectares, also leans on reservoirs, which drive a national rise of 1.5 million hectares in artificial water since 1985. Natural water, still 77% of Brazil’s total, fell 15% over 40 years as deforestation and farming—up 41.9 and 102.9 million hectares—erode ecosystems.

Researchers warn this shift threatens biodiversity and water security. Behind the numbers lies a story of a nation at a crossroads, grappling with climate change and human impact.

The Amazon’s 2023-2024 droughts and the Pantanal’s collapse signal trouble for global business reliant on Brazil’s resources. Schirmbeck urges swift action—better water management and policies—to curb the loss.

This crisis, rooted in decades of data, shows Brazil’s water wealth slipping away. The 2022 peak of 18.8 million hectares feels distant as eight of the driest years since 1985 pile up. Companies and governments watching these figures see a clear message: adapt now or face a parched future.