The Cerrado – Brazil’s savanna deserves protection

This article explains how the Cerrado, the world’s most biodiverse savanna, has been neglected in part due to being overshadowed by its charismatic neighbour – the Amazon rainforset. In fact, the Cerrado is invaluable:

• Its deep soil holds water from the wet season, feeding into eight watersheds which together provide 40% of Brazil’s freshwater
• It is a critical carbon store, 2/3 of which lies underground, in the >25m deep soil and the tree roots within
• It holds ~5% of the world’s biodiversity, with 40% of its species being endemic

Unlike the rainforest, fire plays a vital part in the life cycle of Cerrado plant species, meaning some fire is necessary to maintain high biodiversity.

Unfortunately the Cerrado is being converted to farmland at a devastating rate. It’s importance as an ecosystem needs to be globally recognised so that it receives the protection and management it deserves.

Read the full Landscape News article here.