CHANGES IN CERRADO LAND USE

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CHANGES IN CERRADO LAND USE
Carlos A Klink University of Brasilia, Brazil
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Biomes
Caatinga
Amazonia
AP
RR
MA
AM
CE
PA
RN
PB
PI
PE
AL
AC
RO
SE
TO
MT
Atlantic Forest
BA
GO
DF
Cerrado
MG
MS
ES
SP
RJ
PR
SC
RS
Pantanal
Grassland
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• CERRADO SAVANNAS
• 2,000,000 Km2 (25 of contiguous USA)
• 10,000 Plant Species
• One of the Worlds 25 hotspots

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CERRADO IS A TROPICAL SAVANNA

• RAINFALL
• SEASONALITY
• FIRE
• SUBSTRATE
• HUMAN ACTION

DETERMINANTS
Most biomass is underground
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LANDSAT IMAGE OF BRASILIA AND NATIONAL PARK
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Bare Soil
Planted Pastures
Cash Crops
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CONSEQUENCES RATE OF CHANGE
Cerrado Savanna
Amazon Forest
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Woody Savanna
Natural Grassland
PAW
ET 1.2-1.8 mm/d
PAW
ET 2.8-4.8 mm/d
WET 721 mm DRY 229 mm
WET 402 mm DRY 71 mm
50 of total water used in DRY
70 of total water used in DRY season comes from
below 2 m
4m

• MODELLING Planted Pastures
• 10 reduction PP
• 9 reduction ET
• Dry spells during growth season

8m
ALTERATION OF WATER CYCLE
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Planted Pastures African grasses
ECOLOGICAL FEEDBACKS
Biological Invasion African Grasses modify water
cycle, fire regime reduce biodiversity
FIRE
Pasture Degradation

• Carbon Imbalances
• Large C Stock Sink
• Becomes Source when Degraded

New Planted Pastures
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ECONOMICAL FEEDBACK REGIONAL SCALE
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ECONOMICAL FEEDBACK GLOBAL SCALE
AGRONEGÓCIOS O BRASIL QUE ASSUSTA BUSH (
Primeira Leitura, April/2002)
Production Costs (US/ha)
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BACK TO THE FUTURE

• NEW ECOSYSTEMS (Emerging Ecosystems) that have
  been formed brought both positive (economical)
  and negative (environmental) effects
• KNOWLEDGE Economical benefits are well
  documented, while Environmental impacts are
  poorly understood
• THIS IMBALANCE POSES GREAT DIFFICULTIES TO
  INFLUENCE LAND-USE CONSERVATION POLICIES