Environmental Justice Foundation (EJF)

In 2020, Brazilian biologist Luciana Leite fulfilled her lifelong dream of visiting the Pantanal – world's largest tropical wetland and a sanctuary to an astonishing array of wildlife – only to confront its worst-ever fire.

Deeply affected by the experience, she and colleague Heideger set out to uncover the fire's cause. But the expedition guided by local communities, Indigenous peoples, and scientists revealed a large, decade-spanning crisis.