Via Civil Society Observatory
The destruction of this biome totals 408 hectares of devastated land.
The Cerrado is one of the largest and most important Brazilian biomes, with a biodiversity that occupies 12% of the national territory and sustains diverse peoples and traditional communities. This biome, however, suffers from the advance of deforestation caused mainly by the agricultural sector, which already occupies 40% of the land, according to a study by WWF-Brazil.
The months of July and August are marked by constant wildfires, and today there are already 12 fire outbreaks. According to environmental firefighter Matheus Rocha, who works to combat the fires, in most cases, the fires are intensified by criminal actions to create pasture for agribusiness.
“These are people who have an interest in clearing an area for large-scale agriculture, land grabbing, or creating pasture. These people end up setting fire to the Cerrado and causing forest fires,” says Rocha.
Known as the cradle of waters, the Cerrado has important springs that supply the entire Brazilian territory, such as the São Francisco River and the Tocantins River.
Watch the video report produced by Brasil de Fato: