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| An Outline of the Cerrado (http://www.thedailygreen.com/environmental-news/latest/brazil-new-species-47042905#slide-2) |
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| The Size of the Cerrado in Relation to Brazil (http://www.nhnz.tv/FactsBR) |
Monday, November 25, 2013
Maps
Images of the Ecosystem
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| Then - The Thriving Cerrado of the Past (http://www.fundacaoboticario.org.br/en-us/pages/novidades/detalhe/default.aspx?idNovidade=361) |
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| Now - The Border between the Protected and Un-Protected Land of the Cerrado |
Historical State
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| The Red-Legged Seriema of the Cerrado (http://www.natgeocreative.com/ngs/photography/search/explore.jsf) |
The
tropical savanna of Brazil, also known as the Cerrado, is the largest savanna
in South America, covering over 20% of Brazil (WWF, 2013). It is believed to have existed before South
America and South Africa became two separate continents. It is home to
1,600 species of animals and 10,000 species of plants (5,000 of which are
endemic) (WWF, 2013). Throughout the region, one can find animals such as
jaguars, maned wolves, giant anteaters, giant armadillos, and marsh deer living
amongst birds such as red-legged seriemas and Spix’s macaws (WWF, 2013).
Most of the plants survive both the wet and dry seasons and are well
adapted to fire. The Cerrado is so diverse that it has earned a spot on
Conservation International’s “Top 25 Biodiversity Hotspots” list. It is
home to 5% of life on earth (WWF, 2011).
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| The Three-Banded Armadillo Endemic to the Cerrado (http://www.natgeocreative.com/ngs/photography/search/explore.jsf) |
Before
the modernization of Brazilian life, the Cerrado area was used very little by
humans, mainly just for subsistence agriculture. It was first colonized in the 1800s by
explorers searching for gold and treasures. The explorers settled down and became
colonists, eventually setting up mainly cattle ranches. Because of the high levels of aluminum found
within the soil, the Cerrado contains soil that is relatively toxic. The region was so irrelevant to Brazil that
before the modernization happened in the 1950-60s, the Cerrado was known as the
“wasteland” of Brazil. As the modernization came about, scientists were
encouraged to transform the Cerrado into an agricultural state - a feat that
was accomplished by using large quantities of fertilizer, limestone, and water
(Wolford, 2008).
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| The Maned Wolf of the Cerrado (http://www.natgeocreative.com/ngs/index.jsf) |
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| The Giant Anteater of the Cerrado (http://www.natgeocreative.com/ngs/index.jsf) |
Current Human Impacts
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| The Farming Impact on the Cerrado (http://www.economist.com/node/16886442) |
Before the 1960s, the Cerrado was not
regarded as a valuable region, and was thus ignored for the most part.
Around this time, however, Brazil started building its new capital city,
Brasilia. (AgBrazil, 2006). The construction of Brasilia drew attention
to the biodiversity hotspot. Soon, large agricultural companies began
raising livestock in the Cerrado. In the 1970s, the Cerrado gained more
unwanted attention when scientific developments led to more effective ways to
grow crops in the somewhat difficult soil. Agriculture became a huge part of
life within the Cerrado; large plantations started appearing in the area
(AgBrazil, 2006). Today, this widespread use of the land for agriculture
has resulted annual emissions of 250 million tons of CO2 (WWF, 2011). As scientists managed to
develop seeds better adapted for the tropical savannah climate, production
skyrocketed - Brazil currently produces large amounts of soybeans.
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| Charcoalers Old Growth Cerrado Trees Being Burned Down (http://www.natgeocreative.com/ngs/photography/search/explore.jsf) |
According to the WWF, the Cerrado is the
second most threatened area in Brazil (WWF, 2013). A large part of this
problem is due to agriculture. The area has been developed, often using
practices of monoculture, where farmers have soy plantations, cattle ranches,
and burn sites for charcoal. Unfortunately, the government of Brazil has
done little to protect the region, and has even encouraged development.
Less than 3% of the land is under the protection of the law (WWF, 2013).
In addition, the biodiversity of the region is being depleted.
Currently, a mere 20% of the Cerrado’s vegetation remains (WWF, 2013).
The original vegetation of the tropical
savanna is adapted to natural fires. Currently, however, human-induced
fire is often used to clear the land in the Cerrado to make it reusable for
agriculture. This burning creates “new growth,” which is used to feed
cattle (WWF, 2010). According to José Felipe Ribeiro, a Cerrado
researcher, these unnatural fires allow non-native vegetation to spread: the
wind blows the nutrients of these plants and replaces the nutrients of the
native plants that were destroyed because of the fires. (WWF, 2010).
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| The Cerrado Being Illegally Burned Down for Agriculture (http://wwf.panda.org/wwf_news/press_releases/?195997%2FFourfold-increase-in-fires-magnifies-threat-to-Brazils-Cerrado) |
Future Prospects
Because the Cerrado is so heavily
impacted by agricultural activities and urbanization, it is unlikely that the
ecosystem can be maintained. The biodiversity within the Cerrado is rapidly
being damaged as a result of current human impact. Without government intervention, it appears
as though it will only get worse.
According to a study by Wendy Jepson,
“estimates of Cerrado vegetation loss speculate that modern agro-pastoral
expansion has converted up to 80% of the savanna and that the pace of change is
increasing” (Jepson, 2013). Based on this study, it appears that this
ecosystem will disappear altogether unless there is an intervention of sorts in
the current practices being carried out on the land.
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| The Current Divide Between Protected Cerrado Land and Farmland… … soon, the area may be all farmland (http://www.natgeocreative.com/ngs/photography/search/explore.jsf) |
Although the Cerrado’s deforestation has
been unnoticed for several decades, several organizations have begun to try and
fix the problem through various methods. These same organizations have also
been trying to get the Brazilian government involved in the problem with the Cerrado.
Although only the slightest fraction of the land is protected by the
government, this number is currently on the rise and hopefully in the future
the government will protect a majority, if not all of the endangered land.
Environmentalists and scientists have also suggested the cultivation of alternative
crops that are able to better utilize the natural resources available in the
Cerrado; this will hopefully minimize the negative human impact. Though
unlikely, the preservation of the Cerrado is still feasible - a fact that the
authorities should realize and work for (Wolford, 2008).
What Can Be Done...
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An Image from the "Chapada dos Veadieros National Park"
|
The government of Brazil along with other international
organizations such as the United Nations must work together in order to restore
the Cerrado to its original state. For example, the WWF is in the process
of protecting what they refer to as “one of the world’s biological ‘hotspots.’”
To do so, they should continue to promote ecotourism. This way,
attention will be drawn to the region while it is simultaneously being preserved.
In addition, Brazil needs to become more active in the “Round Table on
Responsible Soy,” which will help the nation develop more sustainable methods
for the production of soy (WWF, 2013). Other international organizations
need to become more involved too by helping with the “Chapada dos Veadeiros
National Park,” which is located in the center of Brazil (WWF, 2013). The
park’s territory should slowly be expanded in order to protect more of the
Cerrado.
Furthermore, organizations such as the World Bank and the Climate
Investment Funds must expand their efforts to assist residents of the Cerrado
in the development of more sustainable working techniques. Together, the
two groups have already pledged $6.5 million (World Bank, 2013) to fund environmentally
friendly activities. In order to ensure that sustainable activities are
continued, more organizations need to contribute not only their funds, but also
their expertise; locals must be taught how to make a living without permanently
damaging the Cerrado.
The government of Brazil also needs to work in conjunction with
international organizations to create a set of stricter laws that will preserve
what is left of the Cerrado, as well as begin to refurbish the land that has
been destroyed. If the Brazilian government continues to disregard the
region, it will soon be taken over by large agricultural companies that will
not work sustainably.
People who are not
directly involved with the Cerrado can also help preserve the region by taking
care to eat sustainably. Agricultural demand is fueling the
non-environmentally friendly methods of agriculture. If the consumer were
to put pressure on farmers to grow crops more sustainably by only purchasing
certain goods, it is likely that the Cerrado will slowly return to the healthy
biodiversity hotspot that it once was.
Tables
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| Table Courtesy of Conservation International (2013) (http://www.conservation.org/where/priority_areas/hotspots/south_america/Cerrado/Pages/default.aspx) |
The data from the table above makes it clear how seriously the Cerrado is being threatened. For instance, of the 438,910 km2 remaining, a mere 111,051 km2 is being protected. In addition, the plant and animal species that are endemic to the are are being threatened.
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| The Rapid Increase in Deforestation in the Cerrado between 2002 and 2008 (http://assets.wwf.org.uk/downloads/soya_and_the_cerrado.pdf) Click image to enlarge |
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| Agricultural Production in Brazil (2009) (http://www.abc.org.br/article.php3?id_article=778) |
Works Cited
"14 New Species Discovered in Brazil." The Daily Green. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
Bourscheit, Aldem. "WWF Brasil - Burning Grows 350% in the Cerrado." WWF Brasil. N.p., 11 Oct. 2010. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
"Brazilian Agriculture: The Miracle of the Cerrado." Academia Brasileira De Ciências. N.p., 9 Mar. 2010. Web. 25 Nov. 2013.
"Brazil's Cerrado Region: The Vast Wasteland." Brazil's Cerrado Region: The Vast Wasteland. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
" Cerrado ." Conservation International. Conservation International, n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
"Cerrado, the Brazilian Savanna." WWF. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
"Fast Facts: Brazil." NHNZ. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
Jepson, Wendy. "A Disappearing Biome? Reconsidering Land-cover Change in the Brazilian Savanna." The Geographical Journal 171.2 (2005): 99-111. Print.
"The Nature Conservancy. Protecting Nature. Preserving Life.™." Protecting the Brazilian Cerrado. N.p., 31 Jan. 2011. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
"News." Brazil: Cerrado Peoples Work to Protect the Biome and Leave Poverty behind. N.p., 30 Sept. 2013. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
Osaki, Mauro. "THE BRAZILIAN CERRADO EXPERIENCE WITH COMPETITIVE COMMERCIAL AGRICULTURE A Critical Review." Worldbank.org. N.p., Dec. 2007. Web. 24 Nov. 2013.
Paiva, Jose. "Fundação Grupo Boticário De Proteção a Natureza." Five Years of Conservation in the Cerrado. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
Pearce, Fred. "The Cerrado: Brazil's Other Biodiverse Region Loses Ground." By Fred Pearce: Yale Environment 360. N.p., 14 Apr. 2011. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
Pivello, Vania R. "THE USE OF FIRE IN THE CERRADO AND AMAZONIAN RAINFORESTS OF BRAZIL: PAST AND PRESENT." Fireecology.org. N.p., 2011. Web. Nov.-Dec. 2013.
Ratter, J. A., J. F. Ribeiro, and S. Bridgewater. "The Brazilian Cerrado Vegetation and Threats to Its Biodiversity." Oxford Journals (1997): n. pag. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
"Stock Photography, Royalty-Free Images, Motion and Talent | National Geographic Creative." Stock Photography, Royalty-Free Images, Motion and Talent | National Geographic Creative. N.p., n.d. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
Vitali, Isabella. "Soya and the Cerrado: Brazil’s Forgotten Jewel." N.p., 2011. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
"WWF - Fourfold Increase in Fires Magnifies Threat to Brazil's Cerrado." WWF. N.p., 22 Oct. 2010. Web. 22 Nov. 2013.
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