Cerrado wetlands: multiple ecosystems deserving legal protection as a unique and irreplaceable treasure

Cerrado wetlands, critical yet neglected ecosystems, play a vital role in water storage and filtration, sustaining perennial streams and major Brazilian rivers. Despite their importance, these wetlands lack effective legal protection due to their complex hydrological functioning, diverse vegetation types, and imprecise mapping. This study proposes that all Cerrado wetlands should be unified under official legislation, with protection based on objective indicators such as water table depth (≤50 cm), which defines their unique hydromorphic soils and specialized flora. The research argues for standardized mapping and legal treatment of these wetlands to ensure their conservation, addressing historical misunderstandings and redundancies in regional classifications.

Durigan, G., Munhoz, C. B., Zakia, M. J. B., Oliveira, R. S., Pilon, N. A. L., Valle, R. S. T. d., Walter, B. M. T., Honda, E. A., & Pott, A. (2022). Cerrado wetlands: multiple ecosystems deserving legal protection as a unique and irreplaceable treasure. Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, 20(3), 185–196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pecon.2022.06.002