Cerrado biome: remaining native areas and conservation perspectives

Certain components of biodiversity are associated with environmental conditions that depend on habitat availability. Therefore, vegetation quality and distribution can serve as effective surrogates for assessing ecosystem conservation value. We analyzed the distribution of remnant forests and open habitats in a South American savanna, highlighting the role of protected areas. This approach addresses conservation issues without relying on species‑specific measures, offering a broad spatial perspective based on habitat distribution applicable to multiple taxonomic groups. Forests comprise 11% of the Cerrado, open formations 32%, and areas converted to agriculture 47%. Remaining forests are at least three times smaller than open areas when considering different levels of impact or disregarding impact. Protected areas play a key role in preventing land conversion and preserving remaining habitats, as the representativeness of forest and open areas is greater within protected areas than outside. Open areas represent the best‑preserved and continuous habitats; however, the greatest difference in representativeness between protected areas and the total biome suggests a higher level of impact outside. The extent of native vegetation increases with the size of all types of protected areas, including steep slopes that hinder conversion and lowland regions historically occupied. The latter contains fewer impacted areas, suggesting greater effectiveness in reducing habitat exploitation. The most preserved areas are in the north, with fewer conflicts of interest, making them promising for direct conservation efforts. Our discussion elucidates key aspects of conservation planning, providing a model for processes affecting other environments worldwide.