Cerrado: conhecimento científico e ações para conservação da biodiversidade

Abstract

The Brazilian Cerrado occupies 23% of the country's territory, making it the second largest biome, surpassed only by the Legal Amazon. Approximately 50% of its territory has already been devastated. As a biodiversity hotspot, the Cerrado faces deforestation primarily driven by the expansion and promotion of agricultural and livestock activities. From 2000 to 2014, there was an 87% increase in agricultural land within the Cerrado, with 90% (15.6 million hectares) of this area being occupied by soybean cultivation. Government fiscal incentives provided to producers, lack of public oversight, and loopholes in the Brazilian Forest Code contribute to the extensive fragmentation and loss of this biome. The objective of this study is to highlight the main problems caused by the expansion of the agricultural frontier in the Cerrado, propose planting methods that preserve biodiversity, present scientific research results on Cerrado species, and explore knowledge-sharing events related to this biome. Cerrado species are not widely known and used in the states that encompass it, they are rich in nutrients, have medicinal properties, are easily found and at low cost. the research promotes the importance of consumption and use of Cerrado species, mainly in the pharmaceutical industry, but also by the entire population. Therefore, the promotion of the exchange of knowledge between the academic community and civil society should be encouraged through extension events that can encourage the consumption of these species in the daily diet of the population. Deforestation in the Cerrado has exponentially increased between 2001 and 2022, closely following the agricultural frontier's expansion. The states of Goiás and Tocantins are among the main soybean producers and are at the forefront of deforestation. With the reduction of native vegetation areas and the rising ocean temperatures, atmospheric CO2 levels are reaching alarming rates. Brazil ranks fourth in the world in CO2 emissions, contributing to 5% of global emissions, with 70% of these emissions attributed to deforestation and biomass burning for agricultural purposes. The analysis of above-ground biomass coverage in the Cerrado faces several challenges due to the lack of continuous satellite monitoring. It has been evident that the long-standing management and planting practices widely used in the Cerrado are contributing to increased atmospheric CO2 levels and a decline in biodiversity in this biome. The findings of this study emphasize the urgent need for conservation efforts and sustainable land management practices in the Cerrado. Protecting the remaining native vegetation, implementing effective satellite surveillance systems, and promoting sustainable agricultural techniques are crucial steps towards mitigating deforestation, reducing CO2 emissions, and preserving the unique biodiversity of this valuable biome.