In an online event about the biome, researchers point to socio-environmental and economic risks if political measures are delayed in curbing deforestation. Promoting sustainable productive landscapes is imperative.
The Cerrado, Brazil's most threatened biome and the second with the highest number of endangered animals; it has the highest proportional rates of deforestation and illegal burning in Brazil; and has lost more than half of its native vegetation in 30 years. These were data presented by experts during the webinar "Convergences for the Cerrado – integrated management of biodiversity and sustainable productive landscapes," held on September 9th by the Parliamentary Environmental Front.
The event brought together researchers, representatives of civil society, and parliamentarians who, in addition to presenting a worrying overview of the impact of land-use changes and climate change already linked to the Brazilian savanna, pointed out socio-environmental and economic risks for Brazil and neighboring countries if existing policy proposals for the protection of the biome and its people are not implemented.
“The loss of biodiversity is associated with the loss of ecosystem services. Brazilian agriculture is largely fueled by rainfall; with the increase in deforestation and fires, this rainfall tends to decrease, and we are already seeing drought events. This is a warning for the future that awaits us if we do not reverse this process,” warned Professor Bráulio Dias, from the University of Brasília (UnB) and a specialist in the Cerrado biome, former Executive Secretary of the United Nations Convention on Biological Diversity.
The relationship between environmental conservation and the economy.
According to Mercedes Bustamante, a professor at UnB (University of Brasília), "it is possible to advance in agriculture without expanding into new areas of vegetation." The researcher emphasizes the importance of forest restoration to mitigate the effects of Cerrado destruction. Greater native vegetation cover increases the return of moisture to the atmosphere and reduces the consequences of climate change. Mercedes highlights that "55% of pasture areas have good recovery potential," however, it is necessary that territorial management instruments and incentives be regulated to advance environmental regularization programs and meet the restoration targets assumed under the Paris Agreement.
The drought caused by the destruction of the Cerrado is already a reality in the most threatened regions, such as western Bahia, according to Isabel Drigo, a researcher at Imaflora. The specialist also highlighted the importance of the economic valuation of nature as a strategy to include the benefits of environmental services in the planning of public policies and actions in the agricultural sector. It's not about putting a price on nature, but about recognizing the value of water provision, pollination, and biodiversity itself for society as a whole. "Standing native vegetation matters. If the farmer doesn't have a portion of native vegetation, there will be a decline in the quality of their products, they will need to irrigate more to produce, which generates more expenses," she explains.
The productive sector that led to the expansion of commodities into the Cerrado is now being called to account in various market initiatives, under the international gaze, which is increasingly concerned with biodiversity issues, and the business conduct in supply chains in relation to the environment. The Director of Conservation and Restoration at WWF-Brazil, Edegar de Oliveira Rosa, recalled the “Statement of Support for the Cerrado Manifesto” (SoS Cerrado) initiative, currently signed by approximately 160 global FMCG (fast-moving consumer goods) companies and institutional investors.
The Cerrado Manifesto sends a clear message that there is widespread industry support for halting deforestation in the Cerrado, adopting sustainable land management practices, and mitigating the financial risks associated with deforestation and climate change. Edegar also pointed out that the European Community itself has already approved legislation in this regard, and European countries such as England are currently debating curbing the import of products from areas with deforestation.
The Cerrado needs to be included in the Constitution.
The social, economic, and environmental implications of the devastation of the Cerrado are associated with the uncontrolled expansion of mining, agriculture, and large infrastructure projects, as well as the invasion of exotic species and arson. Experts have indicated that the lack of political will to approve bills that expand the conservation of the Cerrado and the protection of its people exacerbates these threats. They can be avoided with strengthened environmental planning and governance.
Professor Bráulio celebrated the Brazilian Forest Code as a sophisticated tool for the conservation of the biome, but noted that it alone is not sufficient to protect the Cerrado. According to data from Imaflora, 44 million hectares of native vegetation in the biome could still be cleared, considering the protection percentage of only 20% in Legal Reserve areas on rural properties. The Matopiba region is the main frontier for the expansion of agribusiness in the Cerrado of the states of Maranhão, Tocantins, Piauí, and Bahia, and, as the professor pointed out, real estate speculation is a strong driver of this expansion.
If a lack of political will hinders control and undermines economic incentives for conservation, in the face of a government that understands environmental policies as contrary to the purposes of economic development, a response from the legislature becomes a hope for eco-social achievements. Among the projects being processed in the National Congress, Constitutional Amendment Proposal 504/2010 stands out. Known as the "PEC of the Cerrado and Caatinga," the text includes these biomes in the list of national heritage sites in the Brazilian Constitution. Retired legislative consultant Suely Araújo, former president of IBAMA and representative of the Climate Observatory, noted that the amendment has been under consideration for over a decade because the Agricultural Parliamentary Front is hindering its approval. However, Suely now sees an opportunity to renew pressure from civil society on this issue, given the magnitude of the international repercussions of the dismantling promoted by the federal government in the environmental area, and the movement of investors and companies demanding a response from the President of the Chamber of Deputies, Representative Rodrigo Maia.
The coordinator of the Parliamentary Environmental Front, Representative Rodrigo Agostinho, recalled that a “Green Agenda” is being developed in parliament, and, although conditions for approval already exist for some bills, for others it is still necessary to build agreements and reach a compromise between the political forces of the different sectors represented in Congress. This is the case of Bill 3338/2019, called the “Cerrado Bill,” a text authored by Representative Agostinho, the result of collective work, which deals with the conservation, sustainable use, and restoration of the native vegetation of the Cerrado biome. For its approval, Araújo emphasizes the delicate need to reach an agreement with rural landowners.
Policies must take into account the peoples of the Cerrado.
Preliminary research results from bibliographic surveys, released by Professor Mercedes Bustamante, indicate that 5% of the Cerrado biome is indigenous land and has at least 636 traditional communities, including quilombola communities, fundo and fecho de pastos communities, vazanteiras, geraizeiras, and agro-extractive communities, located in 108 municipalities within the biome. Guilherme Eidt, public policy advisor at ISPN, highlighted that these peoples and communities promote livelihoods in their territories that allow for the sustainable use of natural resources and achieve significant results in maintaining ecosystems, conserving biodiversity, and regulating the climate. These areas and territories exhibit reduced deforestation rates, conserve more remaining native vegetation, preserve species, provide food, contribute to the recharge of aquifers and water sources, and store carbon, among many other benefits for nature.
According to the ISPN advisor, the recognition of traditionally occupied territories is one of the central points in the debate surrounding the approval of the Cerrado Bill, because, as Mercedes Bustamante said, "ecological and social systems are in danger of irreparable damage." "The health and survival of one depends on the health and survival of another," the researcher stated. Protecting the peoples of the Cerrado is protecting the biome and thinking about a sovereign future for the country.
The importance of the debate held by the Environmentalist Front was highlighted by Eidt, who pointed out socio-environmental, political, and economic gains in the search for convergences for the conservation of the Cerrado. This is a responsibility that must be shared by agricultural producers, consumers, traders, meatpacking plants, retail chains, and input suppliers. "The conservation of the Cerrado will bring benefits to all," he concluded.