Biota Cerrado Network

Biota Cerrado Network

Duration : 2024 - 2026
Research program : CNPQ (Conselho National de Pesquisa)
Geographic extension : International
Savanna
Biodiversity
Integrated management

The Cerrado, Brazil's largest agricultural frontier and leading grain producer, is one of the country's richest yet most threatened biomes. Its complex biodiversity provides vital ecosystem services essential for environmental and economic sustainability, creating ongoing conflicts between development and conservation.  

The **Biota Cerrado Network**,  brings together research groups that have significantly advanced knowledge of Cerrado biodiversity. These studies have informed conservation and management policies while training a substantial number of highly qualified professionals in this field.  

Faced with development challenges and anthropogenic pressures—critical threats to global conservation—it's vital to understand the biodiversity patterns and processes of the Cerrado using a more integrated approach. The proposed framework entails a multifaceted analysis of the Cerrado's biodiversity, considering habitat loss, fragmentation, climate change, fire management, ecological restoration, and scientific communication.  

The project seeks to examine whether integrated strategies for management, restoration, and communication can effectively conserve Cerrado biodiversity while supporting sustainable development. Previous efforts highlighted the intricate interactions among organisms and their roles in providing ecosystem services. This proposal aims to deepen this understanding, aligning conservation with public engagement in science.  

The strategy will combine inventories, systematic reviews, data analysis, field and laboratory experiments, modeling, and interdisciplinary collaborations, adopting a holistic approach to address the complex challenge of understanding and conserving Cerrado biodiversity.

PARTNERS

  • University of Brasilia
  • University State of Mato Grosso
  • University of Sao Paulo, University of RIo de Janeiro