Is Brazil's enigmatic realm on the verge of its twilight?

The Hidden Paradise of the Cerrado

Nestled in heart of Brazil lies the largely unexplored and often overlooked biome of the Cerrado, a vast tropical savanna that for centuries has remained hidden from the world. Despite being inhabited by Indigenous groups and those seeking refuge, it was only in the mid-20th century that Brazil found a use for this seemingly barren land - the construction of its capital city, Brasília.

The Cerrado, meaning "closed" in Portuguese, has been considered a challenge for visitors due to its unforgiving terrain. Much of the region is a tangled mess of stunted trees and shrubs, crawling with snakes. It's poor in comparison to the Amazon rainforest, earning the common nickname of "dirty field." But the main reason it was ignored for so long is that the capitalist world thought it was a wasteland, devoid of natural resources.

The transformation of the Cerrado began in the 1950s when Brazil needed a new capital city. Clearing a portion of the Cerrado, the city of Brasília rose up, now home to more than 5 million people. Then, in the 1970s, agricultural scientists developed a fertilizer that made the harsh soil of the Cerrado productive, leading to the development of cash crops and the boom of the Brazilian economy.

Bulldozers and tractors flooded the Cerrado, clearing thousands of square miles of scrubby land. Corn, sugarcane, and especially soybeans were planted and shipped across the country to seaports. China, the United States, and Europe bought them up, fueling the relentless conversion of the Cerrado into farmland. Today, the Cerrado's agricultural potential is considered the greatest on the planet.

However, this transformation has come at a high cost. Deforestation in the Cerrado has increased by 68% between 2022 and 2023, leading to the rapid vanishing of its diverse species. About 5,000 endemic species in the savanna, grassland, and forests are at risk as their habitats disappear.

Seeking to understand and protect this largely unknown region, a new generation of scientists, biologists, and ecologists have come to the Cerrado. They have discovered that its remarkable biodiversity is thanks to its isolation for millennia. Home to over 11,000 species of plants and trees, 800 bird species, 1,200 fish species, and 90,000 insect species, the Cerrado is the biologically richest savanna in the world.

Researchers have also uncovered the hidden world beneath the surface of the Cerrado's soil. The soil runs deep, in places up to 80 feet, and many plants have extensive root systems that help them survive the dry season and its fires. An estimated 80% of the Cerrado's biomass lies underground, performing vital ecological services. The soil acts as a massive carbon sink, capturing billions of tons of carbon dioxide in deep roots, and as a sponge, storing seasonal rains in huge underground chambers that feed the headwaters of eight of the 12 major river basins in South America.

The battle to save the Cerrado is ongoing, with conservation organizations, international agencies, and scientists urging the Brazilian government to protect the remaining areas of the biome. Only 10% of the Cerrado is currently protected, mostly state parks and mixed-use areas. Despite some receptivity from legislators, progress towards further protection has been slow due to resistance from agribusiness interests.

Amidst the transformation of the Cerrado lies a group of Indigenous communities known as quilombos, who cherish their land and have embraced tourism to help save it. Hiking through the Cerrado with guides like Luciana Santos, visitors can learn about the hidden treasures of the region, from medicinal plants to unique and delicious fruits like the pequi. These communities are fighting to preserve their culture and way of life while sharing the magic of the Cerrado with the world.

With an estimated four-fifths of the entire Cerrado already disturbed by human activities, time is running out to save this unique and vital ecosystem. As the battle between progress and conservation continues, the future of the Cerrado hangs in the balance.

The Cerrado's natural history, despite being a tropical savanna, has remained hidden and unexplored for centuries.
Rivers, such as the eight major river basins in South America, are fed by the underground chambers of the Cerrado's soil.
Global warming and climate change have not spared the Cerrado, with deforestation increasing by 68% between 2022 and 2023.
The Cerrado's ecosystems, teeming with over 11,000 species of plants and trees, 800 bird species, 1,200 fish species, and 90,000 insect species, make it the biologically richest savanna in the world.
Ecotourism offers a means for Indigenous communities like quilombos to cherish their land, protect their culture, and share the Cerrado's hidden treasures with the world.
Biodiversity preservation is crucial as the Cerrado's soil acts as a carbon sink, storing billions of tons of carbon dioxide and providing vital ecological services.
The earth's climate and environment face a significant impact from the loss of the Cerrado, a region essential to maintaining planetary resilience amidst climate change.
The planet's environmental protection hinges on the protection and conservation of unique ecosystems like the Cerrado.
Education-and-self-development initiatives play a vital role in fostering understanding and appreciation for the Cerrado's diverse wildlife and the need for its protection.
The community's efforts to save the Cerrado are a testament to the power of collaboration between scientists, conservationists, governments, and local communities.
The Cerrado's resilience lies in its habitats, which have developed over millennia, ensuring the survival of over 5,000 endemic species at risk due to deforestation.
The transformation of the Cerrado into farmland has contributed significantly to the Brazilian economy, but it has also placed immense pressure on the planet's climate change mitigation efforts.
The future of the Cerrado, its wildlife, and the earth as a whole is intertwined with the decisions made regarding environmental protection, conservation, and sustainable development.