Heart of the waters

Yes, the Cerrado is the heart of Brazil. Not only because it's located in the country's central region, but mainly because it's the source of water sources that feed much of Brazil's river basins. With its plateau-like geography, the biome is home to numerous springs and important water recharge areas, playing a fundamental role in the main Brazilian and South American river basins. For this reason, it's known as the "cradle of the waters" or the "heart of the waters."

Of the twelve main hydrographic regions of the country, eight have sources in the region¹: the Amazon basin (Xingu, Madeira and Trombetas rivers); the Tocantins-Araguaia River basin (Araguaia and Tocantins rivers); the Eastern Northeast Atlantic basin (Itapecuru River); the Parnaíba Basin (Parnaíba, Poti and Longá rivers); the São Francisco Basin (São Francisco, Pará, Paraopeba, das Velhas, Jequitaí, Paracatu, Urucuia, Carinhanha, Corrente and Grande rivers); the East Atlantic basin (Pardo and Jequitinhonha rivers); the Paraná Basin (Paranaíba, Grande, Sucuriú, Verde and Pardo rivers); and the Paraguay Basin (Cuiabá, São Lourenço, Taquari and Aquidauana rivers).

Spatially, highlighting the biome's significant contribution to the country's water resources, 78% of the Araguaia-Tocantins basin, 47% of the São Francisco basin, and 48% of the Paraná/Paraguay basin are located within the Cerrado. The region also contributes the majority of the water that feeds these three basins: 71% of the Araguaia/Tocantins basin, 94% of the São Francisco basin, and 71% of the Paraná/Paraguay basin. This demonstrates the strong hydrological dependence of these basins on the biome. The Cerrado's significant contribution to the São Francisco River basin and, consequently, to the Brazilian semiarid region should be highlighted.

When we talk about the heart of the waters, we're not only referring to the Cerrado, but also to one of the biome's most iconic features, which makes a significant contribution to the country's watersheds: the Águas Emendadas Ecological Station³, located in the far northeast of the Federal District, in the administrative region of Planaltina. Covering nearly 11 hectares, this fully protected conservation unit encompasses a nearly 6-km-long path, from which spring watercourses supply both the Tocantins and Paraná basins, two of Brazil's most important rivers. Created in 1968, the ecological station stands out among the country's conservation units, housing representative species of the Cerrado's fauna and flora, many of which are threatened with extinction.

The Pantanal biome also contains the headwaters of the rivers that form the Pantanal⁴, whose crucial element for ecosystem function is hydrological flow, providing breeding grounds and food sources for local biodiversity during its seasonal floods and droughts. In 1988, the Brazilian portion of the Pantanal was declared a National Heritage Site by the Brazilian Constitution and is home to sites designated as of relevant international importance by the Ramsar Convention on Wetlands. It also encompasses biosphere reserve areas recognized by the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) since 2000.

Furthermore, this biome contains three of the country's main aquifers: the Bambuí, Urucuia, and Guarani⁵. Essential for river flow, these groundwater reserves cover large areas within the biome. The Bambuí aquifer, located between the Cerrado and Caatinga regions in northern Minas Gerais, covers an area of ​​180 km² and is located within the São Francisco River basin. The Urucuia aquifer, which is entirely within the biome, extends mostly across the western region of the state of Bahia, with fragments in Tocantins, Goiás, Piauí, Maranhão, and northwestern Minas Gerais, covering an area of ​​120 km². Finally, the Guarani, the best-known aquifer in Brazil due to its large size (it is the second largest known aquifer in the world), occupies approximately 1,2 million km², and half of its area is contained within the biome.

In contrast to the large number of springs, rivers, and aquifers, the Cerrado currently contains 60% of Brazil's annual agricultural production, with soybean, corn, cotton, and sugarcane crops.⁶ Consequently, this biome has the highest concentration (78%) of central pivots in Brazil—a system for irrigating large-scale crops using a central pivot.⁷ These systems are located primarily in western Minas Gerais, southeastern Goiás, the Federal District, and western Bahia, regions located in the basins of the Paraná, São Francisco, and Tocantins rivers.⁸ To give you an idea, the three municipalities with the highest concentration of pivots in the country are located in the Cerrado: Unaí (MG), Paracatu (MG), and Cristalina (GO), which together have 2.558 pivots, occupying an area of ​​approximately 191 hectares.⁹ It is important to highlight that agriculture, especially large-scale agriculture, is responsible for the use of almost 70% of the country's water resources¹⁰, and technologies, such as central pivots, are those that demand the most water and, in turn, waste the most.

The biome's waters are also important for the country's energy production, as they contain springs from the Paraná, São Francisco, and Tocantins basins, rivers where Brazil's major hydroelectric plants are located. Considered important sources of energy for Brazil, they account for a large portion of its power generation, reinforcing the biome's importance for national development.

The waters of the Cerrado are also important sources of leisure, recreation, and tourism, improving quality of life for locals and generating revenue for tourist destinations. The various rivers, streams, lakes, rapids, and waterfalls offer countless attractions, from hiking, swimming, water sports, fishing, and even the simple scenic and scenic benefits provided by the beauty of these places. The Chapadas dos Veadeiros, Guimarães, and Diamantina are examples of places with a large concentration of stunning waterfalls. The Araguaia River is one of the country's top sport fishing spots, and the São Francisco River offers numerous leisure and tourism opportunities. The fresh, clean waters of the Cerrado offer countless attractions.

An immense heart of water, from which crystal-clear waters flow, flowing to different corners of our country, supplying cities, generating energy, powering industries, irrigating agricultural crops, and also serving as a source of leisure and recreation. All this clearly demonstrates the biome's importance to our country's water sustainability.