What is Cerrado in Brazil?
In the heart of Brazil, the Cerrado is the water fountain of the most important rivers in South America: the Tocantins, Paraná-Paraguay, and São Francisco rivers. Scientists also consider the Cerrado to be “the cradle of waters” since it hosts three large aquifers, which are underground water reservoirs.
Why is the Cerrado important to Brazil?
Why Preserving the Cerrado Matters Some of South America’s most important rivers originate in the Cerrado. Converting the Cerrado for crop and livestock production can decrease water flows, reduce rainfall, prolong droughts, and contribute to more frequent fires.
Where is the Cerrado biome located?
Located between the Amazon, Atlantic Forests and Pantanal, the Cerrado is the largest savanna region in South America.
What is the savanna in Brazil?
The Cerrado (Portuguese pronunciation: [seˈʁadu], [sɛˈʁadu]) is a vast tropical savanna ecoregion of Brazil, particularly in the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Mato Grosso, Tocantins, Minas Gerais and the Federal District. The core areas of the Cerrado biome are the Brazilian highlands, the Planalto.
Is Brazils Cerrado a biodiversity hotspot?
The Cerrado is a vast expanse of tropical savanna ecoregion located in the South American country of Brazil. The high levels of endemism exhibited here, and the significant threats faced by the Cerrado’s biodiversity makes it an ideal candidate to be classified as a biodiversity hotspot.
Is Cerrado a forest?
The cerrado is a vast tropical and subtropical biome covering more than 20 percent of Brazil, it includes a number of ecosystems from tall closed forests to marshlands to open grassland.
What is important about the Cerrado ecosystem?
The Cerrado is the most biologically diverse savanna on Earth. It is the home of many of Brazil’s indigenous peoples, who have been adversely affected by the deforestation, and the location of major cities like Brasília, the country’s capital.
What is the meaning of Cerrado?
noun, plural cer·ra·dos [suh-rah-dohz; Portuguese si-rah-doos]. Ecology. a type of plains community characterized by vegetation ranging from tropical broadleaf woodlands to scrublands, occurring in extensive areas of Brazil.
What plants are in Cerrado?
Typical trees are the sucupira, copaiba, a peroba called peroba-do-campo, and the golden trumpet tree (ipê-do-cerrado). The cerrado soil is poor in nutrients but rich in iron and aluminum.
How big is the Cerrado?
2.045 million km²
Cerrado/Area
What lives in the Cerrado?
Species. Maned wolves, armadillos, and giant anteaters are among the many animals living in the Cerrado.
How many endemic species are in Cerrado?
The Cerrado has relatively high bird diversity, with more than 850 species, 30 of which are endemic.