One of the most underdeveloped areas of the world is the sparsely populated Chaco region of Paraguay. It's a semi-arid land the size of Texas whose 120,000 residents live in a climate that can be harsh and at times hazardous.

 

Paraguay's Chaco region extends to the outer reaches of the Pantanal and is the home of an incredible variety of wildlife, which includes over 300 mammals, 1,000 species of birds and 400 species of fish. Rivers and marshland provide an excellent habitat for much of that diversity of wildlife.

 

Recently, deep underneath the earth's surface in an area that covers part of the Pantanal and Chaco regions, the Guarani Aquifer was discovered. This aquifer, the largest groundwater recourse in the world, contains enough water to provide 200 years of pure drinking water for the world's population.

 

The careful and creative development of this entire region promises to play an increasingly important role in securing a more harmonious future for humanity.