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The expansion of the productive activities in plateau sections of the Upper Paraguai River Basin (BAP) can potentially impact the abiotic and biotic systems of the Pantanal. The objective of this study is to investigate the dynamics of sugarcane plantation in the Bugres river basin, Mato Grosso state. The methodological procedures followed are based on the generation of data from satellite images and processing in a GIS. In 1990 sugarcane occupied, in the area under study, 137,44 Km2 increasing to 981.11 Km2 with an expansion of 613.84%, preferentially in North-Northeast direction. Sugarcane occupied areas of Sub-montane Semi-Deciduous Seasonal Forests, Alluvial Forests and Livestock farms, not advancing over Urban Areas and Areas of Permanent Protection, the so-called “"APP’'s"”. The declivity is an impeditive factor to increase sugar cane plantations in BAP, wherein it was established in sectors of flat to light undulated relief. As far as soils are concerned, plantations predominate on Oxisols. It was verified that the undulated relief is correlated with the proximal variables: roads, drainage and Indian lands. It was concluded that the good physical soil conditions and flat to light undulated terrain, favored the sugarcane plantation which, under such conditions, presents no restrictions to mechanization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]