Breve análise da evolução e status quo das unidades de conservação no cerrado brasileiro

Abstract

The high levels of exploitation of natural resources have resulted in high environmental degradation, causing negative impacts on the biodiversity of natural ecosystems. One of the tools to minimize impacts on nature is the creation of Conservation Units (CUs). Seeking to understand the situation of CUs in the Brazilian Cerrado, this study aims to identify the evolution of CUs in the biome over 70 years. The data used in the research were collected in the CUs database of the Ministry of the Environment. It was observed that the first CUs were created in 1949 and the period of greatest growth of CUs occurred between 1990 and 2009. It was found that only 8.72% of the Cerrado's territory is currently protected. Most CUs are part of the Sustainable Use group, belong to the federal administrative sphere and do not have a management plan. Better planning is required in the creation and management of these areas, as well as criteria for defining the size and allocation of units in the landscape, in order to ensure greater conservation of biodiversity in the Cerrado biome.