Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks

World Heritage Research

Discover scientific research and academic studies that deepen our understanding of Cerrado Protected Areas: Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks from its history and significance to its conservation, management, and contemporary challenges.

• Effects of habitat fragmentation on species richness and community composition of medium- and large-sized mammals in sugarcane-dominated Cerrado landscapes, southwestern Goiás, Brazil

  Mammal species richness and community composition in the Cerrado Protected Areas of Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks, Brazil, are highly sensitive to habitat fragmentation caused by sugarcane expansion. The study found that landscape metrics—such as native habitat area, fragment isolation, and proximity to protected areas—explained 90.1% of species richness variation and 85.5% of compositional changes. Species diversity increased with more native habitat but declined with greater fragment isolation, while community structure was primarily shaped by inter-fragment distances and protection status. These findings highlight the profound impact of agricultural landscapes on mammal assemblages, favoring generalist and disturbance-tolerant species while reshaping ecological dynamics.

  de Lima, C. A., Alves, E. N., Hannibal, W., & Rocha, E. C. (2026). Effects of habitat fragmentation on species richness and community composition of medium- and large-sized mammals in sugarcane-dominated Cerrado landscapes, southwestern Goiás, Brazil. Frontiers in Conservation Science, 7. https://doi.org/10.3389/fcosc.2026.1799392

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• Soil Macrofauna Diversity in Threatened Veredas in Two Protected Areas of the Brazilian Cerrado

  Environmental degradation in veredas, hygrophilous communities of the Brazilian Cerrado, does not necessarily reduce soil macrofauna diversity but instead may favor certain functional groups, such as herbivores and detritivores, which adapt to altered conditions. This restructuring of communities, rather than a simple decline in biodiversity, was observed in a study comparing preserved (Almescla) and degraded (Peruaçu) veredas in northern Minas Gerais. Researchers analyzed soil macrofauna using pitfall traps across 24 plots per site, recording over 5000 arthropod individuals belonging to four classes, 20 orders, 89 families, and 396 morphospecies. Ants (Formicidae) were the most abundant group, influencing higher macrofauna occurrence in degraded areas due to their adaptability. The study underscores the importance of conservation efforts to maintain vegetation structure and litter deposition, ensuring the preservation of soil biodiversity in threatened ecosystems.

  Alves, A. B., de Araújo, W. S., Costa, L. V. A., Gonçalves, M. F., Silva, S. C. O. e., Ruas, W. V. M., Nunes, Y. R. F., Veloso, R. B., & Veloso, M. d. D. M. (2026). Soil Macrofauna Diversity in Threatened Veredas in Two Protected Areas of the Brazilian Cerrado. Austral Ecology, 51(4). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1111/aec.70212

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• Temporal Changes in Vegetation Cover in Área de Proteção de Pouso Alto, Chapada dos Veadeiros - GO

  Despite the establishment of the Área de Proteção Ambiental (APA) de Pouso Alto in 2001, vegetation loss in the Chapada dos Veadeiros region has not been effectively mitigated. A study analyzing land cover changes over 23 years found that 27.8% of the APA experienced alterations, with 16.6% occurring post-protection designation. Critically, the wilderness zone—intended to have stricter protections—showed nearly triple the vegetation loss in 2023 compared to 2000. The failure to implement a management plan has left priority conservation areas vulnerable, undermining the APA's role in landscape protection and connectivity. Researchers used MapBiomas classification data to compare land use between 2000 (pre-APA) and 2023, revealing persistent threats to biodiversity despite legal safeguards.

  Theulen, V. (2026). Temporal Changes in Vegetation Cover in Área de Proteção de Pouso Alto, Chapada dos Veadeiros - GO. Revista Brasileira de Geografia Física, 19(01), 284–299. https://doi.org/10.26848/rbgf.v19.01.p284-299

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• Spatial and temporal variation in food resources shapes foraging of the Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna; Linnaeus, 1758) in a mosaic of Cerrado densities

  Blue-and-yellow Macaws (Ara ararauna) rely on the spatial and temporal variation of food resources across different densities of Cerrado habitats for their survival. Research at Emas National Park, Brazil, revealed that three key food species—Anacardium humile, Caryocar brasiliense, and Ouratea spectabilis—vary significantly in abundance depending on Cerrado density, with open sites supporting higher numbers of macaws during the dry-to-wet season transition. Pouteria torta serves as a consistent seed source across all densities. The study highlights that conserving diverse Cerrado mosaics is critical for maintaining year-round food availability and sustaining macaw populations amid habitat loss.

  Ragusa-Netto, J. (2026). Spatial and temporal variation in food resources shapes foraging of the Blue-and-yellow Macaw (Ara ararauna; Linnaeus, 1758) in a mosaic of Cerrado densities. Brazilian Journal of Biology, 86. https://doi.org/10.1590/1519-6984.303911

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• Immunological and reproductive effects of anthropized environments in Leptodactylus fuscus (Anura)

  Anthropogenic disturbances in the Cerrado Protected Areas, specifically Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks, significantly alter the immunological and reproductive systems of the frog Leptodactylus fuscus. Research indicates that exposure to agricultural (soybean and sugarcane) and urban environments leads to increased lymphocyte and neutrophil counts, reduced spleen white pulp, elevated red pulp, higher mast cell presence, and changes in melanin pigmentation. Additionally, frogs from highly disturbed areas show an expansion in the area occupied by spermatogonia, spermatocytes, spermatids, and spermatozoa, suggesting multi-systemic physiological adaptations or stress responses. This study highlights the potential of tissue biomarkers for monitoring wild populations under environmental stress, providing critical insights into the impacts of anthropogenic activities on native anuran communities.

  Rezende, W. R., de Lacerda Valverde, B. S., de Souza Santos, L. R., Franco-Belussi, L., & De Oliveira, C. (2026). Immunological and reproductive effects of anthropized environments in Leptodactylus fuscus (Anura). Ecotoxicology, 35(7). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10646-026-03140-6

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• Verbenaceae in Emas National Park (Goiás state, Central Brazil), with a focus on chromatic variation in the corollas of Lippia filifolia

  Researchers have uncovered a notable chromatic variation in the corollas of Lippia filifolia within Emas National Park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site in Brazil's Cerrado domain. Unlike specimens from other regions like the Espinhaço Range and Serra da Canastra, which exhibit yellow corollas, those found in Emas display an uncommon red coloration. This discovery contributes to the taxonomic and biogeographic understanding of Verbenaceae in the Brazilian Central Plateau. The study recorded 12 taxa belonging to three genera, including Lippia stachyoides var. guajajarana, which is endemic to the park. To support conservation efforts, the research provides a synopsis, photographs, and an identification key for the taxa occurring in this critical biodiversity region.

  Cardoso, P. H., Renon, P., Costa, M. L., & De Morais, I. L. (2025). Verbenaceae in Emas National Park (Goiás state, Central Brazil), with a focus on chromatic variation in the corollas of Lippia filifolia. Webbia, 80(1), 107–120. https://doi.org/10.36253/jopt-16698

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• Spatiotemporal Analysis of Land Use and Cover Dynamics in Protected Areas of the Brazilian Cerrado

  Protected areas within the Brazilian Cerrado, such as Chapada dos Veadeiros and Emas National Parks, exhibit significantly more constrained land use and cover dynamics compared to their buffer zones (BZs), with some parks like Templo dos Pilares showing extensive preserved vegetation. However, surrounding BZs face intense land use pressures, posing potential threats to biodiversity conservation in these protected areas. A spatiotemporal analysis of satellite imagery from 1985 to 2018 revealed that while NPA maintain stable land cover patterns, their BZs experience rapid transformations, highlighting the need for proactive management strategies to mitigate external pressures and safeguard long-term conservation efforts.

  Torgeski, M. R., de Carvalho, E. M., dos Santos, A. M., Lemke, A. P., Fioratti, C. A. G., Stefanes, M., Silva, S. M., & Mussury, R. M. (2025). Spatiotemporal Analysis of Land Use and Cover Dynamics in Protected Areas of the Brazilian Cerrado. Scientifica, 2025(1). Portico. https://doi.org/10.1155/sci5/7984448

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