Habitat loss and the effectiveness of protected areas in the Cerrado Biodiversity Hotspot

Strict protected areas (PAs) in the Cerrado, such as Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks, are significantly more effective at reducing deforestation compared to sustainable use PAs. These strict PAs, which currently cover only 3% of the Cerrado, should form the backbone of Brazil's efforts to meet the Convention on Biological Diversity's (CBD) 17% conservation target. The study reveals that sustainable use PAs exhibit deforestation rates similar to non-protected areas, rendering them inadequate for biodiversity protection. Urgent expansion of strict PAs is critical to safeguard the Cerrado's unique biodiversity, one of the world's most threatened ecosystems.

Françoso, R. D., Brandão, R., Nogueira, C. C., Salmona, Y. B., Machado, R. B., & Colli, G. R. (2015). Habitat loss and the effectiveness of protected areas in the Cerrado Biodiversity Hotspot. Natureza & Conservação, 13(1), 35–40. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ncon.2015.04.001