Understanding patterns of land-cover change in the Brazilian Cerrado from 2000 to 2015

Publicado en Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, v. 371(1703):20150435
Autores

Espírito-Santo, M.M., Leite, M.E., Silva, J.O., Barbosa, R.S., Rocha, A.M., Anaya, F.C. and Dupin, M.G.V.

Año de publicación 2016
DOI http://dx.doi.org/10.1098/rstb.2015.0435
Afiliaciones
  • Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, CP 126, CEP 39401-089, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
  • Departamento de Geografia, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, CP 126, CEP 39401-089, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
  • Colegiado de Ecologia, Universidade Federal do Vale do São Francisco, Senhor do Bonfim, Bahia 48970-000, Brazil
  • Departamento de Ciências Sociais, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, CP 126, CEP 39401-089, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil 
  • Departamento de Saúde Mental e Coletiva, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, CP 126, CEP 39401-089, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil
  • Departamento de Biologia Geral, Universidade Estadual de Montes Claros, CP 126, CEP 39401-089, Montes Claros, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Programa

CRN3

Proyecto CRN3025
Keywords

Abstract

Clearing tropical vegetation impacts biodiversity, the provision of ecosystem services, and thus ultimately human welfare. We quantified changes in land cover from 2000 to 2015 across the Cerrado biome of northern Minas Gerais state, Brazil. We assessed the potential biophysical and socio-economic drivers of the loss of Cerrado, natural regeneration and net cover change at the municipality level. Further, we evaluated correlations between these land change variables and indicators of human welfare. We detected extensive land-cover changes in the study area, with the conversion of 23 446 km(2) and the natural regeneration of 13 926 km(2), resulting in a net loss of 9520 km(2) The annual net loss (-1.2% per year) of the cover of Cerrado is higher than that reported for the whole biome in similar periods. We argue that environmental and economic variables interact to underpin rates of conversion of Cerrado, most severely affecting more humid Cerrado lowlands. While rates of Cerrado regeneration are important for conservation strategies of the remaining biome, their integrity must be investigated given the likelihood of encroachment. Given the high frequency of land abandonment in tropical regions, secondary vegetation is fundamental to maintain biodiversity and ecosystem services. Finally, the impacts of Cerrado conversion on human welfare likely vary from local to regional scales, making it difficult to elaborate land-use policies based solely on socio-economic indicators.This article is part of the themed issue 'Tropical grassy biomes: linking ecology, human use and conservation'.