Amazonian savannas are an integral part of Brazil’s Amazon “biome”: implications for environmental policies
Abstract Conservation policies in Brazil differ between the “biomes” into which the country has divided its territory since 2004. The Amazon biome is predominantly tropical forest but also includes unique savanna ecosystems, while the Cerrado biome is composed of various types of savanna but also in...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2025-03-01
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| Series: | Discover Conservation |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44353-025-00031-5 |
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| author | William Douglas Carvalho Salustiano V. Costa-Neto Fernando Cesar Paiva Dagosta Philip M. Fearnside Renato Richard Hilário Hernani Fernandes Magalhães de Oliveira Cláudia Regina da Silva José Julio de Toledo Bruna Silva Xavier Karen Mustin |
| author_facet | William Douglas Carvalho Salustiano V. Costa-Neto Fernando Cesar Paiva Dagosta Philip M. Fearnside Renato Richard Hilário Hernani Fernandes Magalhães de Oliveira Cláudia Regina da Silva José Julio de Toledo Bruna Silva Xavier Karen Mustin |
| author_sort | William Douglas Carvalho |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Conservation policies in Brazil differ between the “biomes” into which the country has divided its territory since 2004. The Amazon biome is predominantly tropical forest but also includes unique savanna ecosystems, while the Cerrado biome is composed of various types of savanna but also includes islands and corridors of forest. Confusion, both inadvertent and deliberate, between the terms Cerrado and “savanna” has resulted in reducing the protection of Amazonian savannas by allowing less-demanding requirements applicable to the Cerrado biome to be applied. Threats to Amazonian savannas are also increased by legal provisions that allow required “legal reserves” in private properties to be compensated by reserves elsewhere in the same biome without requiring them to be of the same ecosystem type. We suggest needed clarifications and changes in Brazil’s regulations to guarantee the protection of the country’s unique Amazonian savanna ecosystems. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-0d73bcd0362f4d95b0fcf59e07d76ca8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 3004-9784 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Discover Conservation |
| spelling | doaj-art-0d73bcd0362f4d95b0fcf59e07d76ca82025-08-20T03:40:44ZengSpringerDiscover Conservation3004-97842025-03-01211810.1007/s44353-025-00031-5Amazonian savannas are an integral part of Brazil’s Amazon “biome”: implications for environmental policiesWilliam Douglas Carvalho0Salustiano V. Costa-Neto1Fernando Cesar Paiva Dagosta2Philip M. Fearnside3Renato Richard Hilário4Hernani Fernandes Magalhães de Oliveira5Cláudia Regina da Silva6José Julio de Toledo7Bruna Silva Xavier8Karen Mustin9Terrestrial Ecology Group (TEG-UAM), Department of Ecology, Faculty of Sciences, Autonomous University of MadridInstituto de Pesquisas Científicas e Tecnológicas do Estado do Amapá (IEPA)Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade e Meio Ambiente, Universidade Federal da Grande Dourados (UFGD)National Institute for Research in Amazonia (INPA)Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Tropical, Universidade Federal do AmapáDepartamento de Zoologia, Universidade Federal do ParanáInstituto de Pesquisas Científicas e Tecnológicas do Estado do Amapá (IEPA)Programa de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Tropical, Universidade Federal do AmapáPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Rio de JaneiroPrograma de Pós-Graduação em Biodiversidade Tropical, Universidade Federal do AmapáAbstract Conservation policies in Brazil differ between the “biomes” into which the country has divided its territory since 2004. The Amazon biome is predominantly tropical forest but also includes unique savanna ecosystems, while the Cerrado biome is composed of various types of savanna but also includes islands and corridors of forest. Confusion, both inadvertent and deliberate, between the terms Cerrado and “savanna” has resulted in reducing the protection of Amazonian savannas by allowing less-demanding requirements applicable to the Cerrado biome to be applied. Threats to Amazonian savannas are also increased by legal provisions that allow required “legal reserves” in private properties to be compensated by reserves elsewhere in the same biome without requiring them to be of the same ecosystem type. We suggest needed clarifications and changes in Brazil’s regulations to guarantee the protection of the country’s unique Amazonian savanna ecosystems.https://doi.org/10.1007/s44353-025-00031-5AmazoniaBiodiversityCerradoConservation policiesLegal AmazonLegislation |
| spellingShingle | William Douglas Carvalho Salustiano V. Costa-Neto Fernando Cesar Paiva Dagosta Philip M. Fearnside Renato Richard Hilário Hernani Fernandes Magalhães de Oliveira Cláudia Regina da Silva José Julio de Toledo Bruna Silva Xavier Karen Mustin Amazonian savannas are an integral part of Brazil’s Amazon “biome”: implications for environmental policies Discover Conservation Amazonia Biodiversity Cerrado Conservation policies Legal Amazon Legislation |
| title | Amazonian savannas are an integral part of Brazil’s Amazon “biome”: implications for environmental policies |
| title_full | Amazonian savannas are an integral part of Brazil’s Amazon “biome”: implications for environmental policies |
| title_fullStr | Amazonian savannas are an integral part of Brazil’s Amazon “biome”: implications for environmental policies |
| title_full_unstemmed | Amazonian savannas are an integral part of Brazil’s Amazon “biome”: implications for environmental policies |
| title_short | Amazonian savannas are an integral part of Brazil’s Amazon “biome”: implications for environmental policies |
| title_sort | amazonian savannas are an integral part of brazil s amazon biome implications for environmental policies |
| topic | Amazonia Biodiversity Cerrado Conservation policies Legal Amazon Legislation |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1007/s44353-025-00031-5 |
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