Historical State

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).

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).

The Maned Wolf of the Cerrado
(http://www.natgeocreative.com/ngs/index.jsf)

The Giant Anteater of the Cerrado
(http://www.natgeocreative.com/ngs/index.jsf)