The Cerrado covers approximately 2.036.448 square kilometers or 22% of the national territoryThis biome, equivalent to 22% of the country, is still little known and valued. Called the 'water tower of Brazil', the biome is home to eight of the twelve largest hydrographic basins in the country and three large aquifers — Guarani, Urucuia and Bambuí.
The typical vegetation, composed of trees with deep roots adapted to drought, ensures water infiltration into the soil and feeds rivers that flow to different regions. This characteristic makes the biome essential for supplying large urban centers and for maintaining irrigated agriculture in the country, acting as a link between the Amazon, the Pantanal, the Caatinga, and the Atlantic Forest. This intermediate position makes it one of the main regulators of the South American water system.
However, in recent decades, the Cerrado has been undergoing an accelerated process of conversion of natural areas into pastures and monocultures. According to a study published in Sustainability magazineThe biome has already lost about 50% of its original native vegetation. This drastic reduction compromises aquifer recharge, rainfall formation, and regional climate balance.
Hydrological models indicate that, if the degradation trend continues, rivers originating in the Cerrado and feeding other biomes could lose up to 35% of their flow by 2050. Today, the Cerrado accounts for more than half of the total deforestation recorded in Brazil. The loss of vegetation cover also impacts the biodiversity of the biome, which has more than 12 species of native plants, of which about 40% are exclusive to this tropical savanna.
For all this, during COP 30In Belém, the Cerrado biome should be at the center of the debate on conservation and climate. Transforming scientific diagnoses into effective policies is the main challenge.
Recognition of traditional ways of life and territories
The path to preserving this biome involves recognizing its territories and traditional communities. The region is home to diverse human communities that maintain ways of life closely linked to the landscape, such as... geraizeiros, riverbanks, babaçu coconut breakers, pasture bottom and enclosure,, paths,quilombolas e indigenousAll of these groups develop sustainable management practices that help conserve vegetation and water sources. However, most of these populations still live without legal recognition of their territories, which makes them vulnerable to land grabbing, eviction, and violence.
In an attempt to reverse the situation, a draft decree for the titling of traditional territoriesThe proposal, developed with the participation of the National Council of Traditional Peoples and Communities (CNPCT), is being discussed by the federal government. The proposal envisions the definitive titling of areas historically occupied by these communities, going beyond existing models—such as extractive reserves and sustainable development projects.
The text also proposes self-declaration as an essential instrument for registration and protection, recognizing the role of the communities themselves in territorial management. Studies in socio-environmental policies Studies indicate that traditionally occupied territories exhibit lower rates of deforestation and a greater capacity for natural regeneration. Thus, land regularization is seen as part of a public policy based on scientific evidence and aimed at the country's water and climate security.
Experts emphasize that the conservation of the Cerrado also depends on complementary mechanisms, such as... Voluntary Easement Areas (VEAs) — which allow for the protection of private areas without loss of ownership — and incentives for ecological restoration. These initiatives are part of the effort to balance agricultural production, conservation, and water supply, central pillars of Brazilian sustainable development.
Campaign for the Cerrado
The promotion of the Cerrado biome has gained momentum in scientific communication campaigns and projects. “Cerrado, Heart of the Waters”The campaign, coordinated by the Institute for Society, Population and Nature (ISPN) in partnership with networks and civil society organizations, seeks to broaden understanding of the importance of the biome. The campaign uses technical environmental monitoring data to demonstrate how the loss of vegetation reduces water infiltration into the soil and increases the frequency of extreme droughts.
This approach combines science and environmental education, showing that the preservation of the Cerrado depends on both public policies and sustainable local practices. The campaign also highlights the convergence between scientific knowledge and traditional wisdom—both fundamental to conserving the water resources that sustain the country.
The legal recognition of traditional territories, coupled with the creation of incentives for conservation and restoration, can strengthen the ecological resilience of the biome. The future of the Cerrado—and of national water security—depends on the country's ability to integrate science, governance, and social participation into a single conservation policy. Without the Cerrado, there is no water. And without water, there is no future.
This article was originally published in The Conversation magazine.