What Can Be Done...

An Image from the "Chapada dos Veadieros National Park"

(http://www.natgeocreative.com/ngs/index.jsf)

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.