The Use of Fire in the Cerrado and Amazonian Rainforests of Brazil: Past and Present

This study highlights the significant impact of human activity on fire regimes in Brazil's Cerrado and Amazon biomes over the past 4000 years, revealing a stark contrast between fire-adapted savannas and fire-sensitive rainforests. It demonstrates that while natural lightning fires are common in savannas, anthropogenic fires now dominate both ecosystems, with post-European settlement fire frequency surging due to cattle ranching and agricultural practices. The research consolidates fragmented data on indigenous fire use and emphasizes the need for distinct fire management strategies to mitigate biodiversity loss and environmental degradation. In the Amazon, policies should promote fire-free small-scale agriculture, while in the Cerrado, sustainable fire use for ranching must align with local conditions. Effective conservation strategies require integrating scientific knowledge with indigenous expertise to maintain ecological processes and reduce destructive wildfires.

Pivello, V. R. (2011). The Use of Fire in the Cerrado and Amazonian Rainforests of Brazil: Past and Present. Fire Ecology, 7(1), 24–39. https://doi.org/10.4996/fireecology.0701024