Strategies for conservation

Conserving what remains of the Cerrado is a race against time, given the many threats the biome faces. It demands efforts from society as a whole, especially political and governmental actions, the engagement of the Cerrado peoples, and the involvement of those who consume its products and byproducts in cities. It is necessary to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, reduce, or even halt, deforestation of native vegetation, restore what has already been degraded, and strengthen the Cerrado peoples by guaranteeing access to land and natural resources, encouraging the continuation of their ways of life, and their protagonism in the socio-environmental management of the biome (see the publication "Political Strategies for the Cerrado").

Politically, first and foremost, it is crucial that the biome be designated a National Heritage site. This has been a long-standing demand in the National Congress since 1995, when a proposed amendment was tabled that would have included the Cerrado as a National Heritage site in the 1988 Constitution, along with other Brazilian biomes (PEC 115/1995). This measure would enshrine its conservation as a matter of public interest, reinforcing the need for efforts to ensure its occupation is guided by criteria that guarantee sustainable development. In 2003, although still pending approval, the PEC was reformulated to also include the Caatinga (PEC 51/2003). Further attempts were made in 2009 (PEC 05/2009) and 2010 (PEC 504/2010).

This 2010 version is still in progress, and although more than twenty years have passed in this process, it has unfortunately not yet been approved. It has already been approved by the Senate, but awaits a plenary session in the House. To push for the approval of this constitutional amendment, which is so important for the conservation of biomes, there is an online petition with almost 600 thousand signatures and several civil society organizations mobilized. The National Campaign in Defense of the Cerrado is a movement comprised of nearly 50 organizations that seeks to promote biodiversity and the cultures of the biome's peoples and communities. The movement has been a key player, monitoring the progress of the Constitutional Amendment Proposal (PEC) and lobbying the legislature for its approval.

Furthermore, it is important to ensure the establishment, management, and monitoring of protected areas. Conservation units in the Cerrado cover approximately 170 km2, equivalent to 8,3% of its territory, of which 3,1% is covered by strictly protected areas and 5,6% by sustainable use (with certain areas where both types of units overlap).¹ Furthermore, 4,1% of the territory is covered by indigenous lands.² Comparatively, these figures are well below those of other large biomes, such as the Amazon, Atlantic Forest, and Caatinga. Given the biome's size and variability, these numbers should be much higher, and the units should be strategically integrated, seeking to form a large mosaic, ensuring greater possibilities for its conservation.

There are also several government efforts to conserve the biome. The main one is the Sustainable Cerrado Program, established by MMA Ordinance No. 361 of September 12, 2003, which defines conservation priorities. Furthermore, with the Cerrado Biosphere Reserve⁶, Brazil is part of the Global Network of Biosphere Reserves, an initiative proposed by the UN, which the Brazilian government has joined. All of these initiatives require commitment from government agencies and the involvement of private institutions and civil society for their effectiveness.

Preventing and combating wildfires is also a necessary front for conserving the biome. This includes monitoring, effective territorial and watershed management, preventive and educational actions, and the ability to intervene when uncontrolled wildfires occur. To this end, community fire brigades are being formed and actions are being implemented under the National Forest Fire Prevention and Control System (Prevfogo) and the National Program for Fire Reduction and Replacement in Rural and Forest Areas (Pronafogo).

Considering the Cerrado's water wealth and all its threats, integrated management of this resource across its various basins is essential. Legislation regarding the control and oversight of the capture, use, and disposal of both surface and groundwater must be enforced. Simultaneously, efforts must be made to ensure adequate sanitation for human settlements, both in cities and rural areas. There are several experiences in this regard in local communities, which have creatively implemented rainwater harvesting, water reuse, and ecological sanitation systems (with ecological septic tanks and alternative, low-cost sewage treatment systems, for example).

Another primary demand is the land regularization of communities in general. Progress must be made in the demarcation and ratification of Indigenous Lands, the granting of land titles to family farmers, and the guarantee of territorial rights for traditional communities, always seeking to integrate them into protected area mosaics.

Notably, traditional communities and indigenous peoples have been resisting the biome's pressures. Some already established practices provide a real example of how preservation can be achieved through sustainable use. These include a variety of experiences, such as sustainable production in agroforestry and agrosilvopastoral systems; extraction of native species; ecological soil management; sustainable practices related to water resources; protection and restoration of springs; etc. Ultimately, the conservation of the biome's landscapes itself represents an important ecosystem service provided by the communities.

To ensure the active participation of traditional peoples and communities, it is vital to foster their income-generating initiatives through the sustainable use of Cerrado resources; grant rural credits for sustainable production activities; provide technical assistance and rural extension for sustainable and agro-extractive production; facilitate the regularization of community-based agro-industries; and expand access to public procurement policies, such as the Food Acquisition Program (PAA), the National School Feeding Program (Pnae), and the General Minimum Price Policy (PGPM-Bio).

It is worth highlighting the work of organized civil society and networks in which the peoples of the Cerrado come together to raise their banners, such as Cerrado Network, which seeks to promote sustainability by defending the conservation of the biome and its peoples. Composed of more than 50 entities, including Indigenous peoples, quilombolas, babassu coconut breakers, vazanteiros, fundo and fecha de pasto (pasture and fence) communities, artisanal fishermen, geraizeiros (geraizeiros), extractivists, veredeiros (veredeiros), caatingueiros (caatingueiros), everlasting flower gatherers, family farmers, and NGOs such as ISPN. This network plays a fundamental role in representing organized society in the Cerrado in various public spaces, proposing, monitoring, and evaluating programs and public policies. It currently has a presence in at least 21 different collegiate bodies.⁷

To provide essential support for the conservation of the Cerrado, a necessary strategy is to strengthen multidisciplinary research in the biome and make this information available to society and, especially, to decision-makers. For example, collecting more in-depth data on the biome's biodiversity and physical characteristics; on the traditional knowledge of the Cerrado peoples; and on innovation regarding sustainable practices. Research in this area is already being conducted by several universities located in the biome, such as the University of Brasília; the Federal Institute of Goiás (IFG), through the Center for Biological Studies and Research of the Cerrado (NEPBio-Cerrado); the Federal University of Goiás, with its Integrated Center of the Cerrado; and research institutions such as Embrapa Cerrados and the National Center for Biodiversity Assessment and Research and Conservation of the Cerrado (CBC), part of ICMBio; among others.

Finally, it should be noted that a significant contribution society as a whole can make to the conservation of the Cerrado is by valuing the biome in various ways. Whether by consuming and promoting its sustainable products, preserving private lands, changing the mindset that the Cerrado is dirty and ugly, seeing the beauty behind the twisted trees, contributing to collective actions in favor of the biome, or simply recognizing its importance to our country and our planet.