territories
Thematic
“Being from the Cerrado is returning to the origins of humanity. Human beings emerged on this planet in savanna landscapes. […]
The pleasure that humankind feels when in the vastness of a field, of a savannah, is an ancestral thing that brings peace of mind, security, and well-being.”
The pleasure that humankind feels when in the vastness of a field, of a savannah, is an ancestral thing that brings peace of mind, security, and well-being.”
Giselda Durigan, engenheira florestal e doutora em Biologia Vegetal
Biodiversity and resilience are two words that characterize the Cerrado.
Through this territory, we will walk amidst the beauty of the ipê trees, bromeliads, and so many other species of the Cerrado; savor the unique taste of pequi and guava, and understand the importance of preserving this vital biome.
The Cerrado, the second largest biome in the country and in Latin America, is also known as the "Brazilian savanna" and is considered a global biodiversity hotspot because it faces a high degree of threat to its biodiversity.
1/4
A significant portion of Brazilian territory is covered by the Cerrado.
57 %
from the lands of Minas Gerais
About
30 %
of the species identified in Brazil are found in the Cerrado.
The most biodiverse tropical savanna on the planet.
More than
12.000
plant species
10.000
species of butterflies and moths
800
fish species
837
birds
227
mammals
8 out of the 12 main hydrographic regions of Brazil have their headwaters in the Cerrado.
The São Francisco River basin — which originates in the Serra da Canastra (MG) and "reaches the middle of the sea," in the Atlantic Ocean — has 94% of its water production dependent on the waters of the Cerrado.
The Cerrado is born and dies from fire.
From natural to criminal wildfires, the biome reinvents itself and resists.
It is the second most altered Brazilian biome due to human occupation.
46,3% of the Cerrado area has already been converted into plantations, pastures, roads, hydroelectric dams, and cities.
The Cerrado region accounts for 60% of Brazil's annual agricultural production.
The biome, which was intended to be the world's breadbasket, has been transformed into a testing ground for large-scale agriculture.
The Inhotim Institute is located at the crossroads between the Cerrado and the Atlantic Forest.
Certified by the Botanic Gardens Conservation International, the Botanical Garden acts as a research center, conserving the surrounding biomes and promoting the propagation of species.
With over 140 hectares of land and 250 hectares of the Inhotim Private Natural Heritage Reserve (RPPN), the Botanical Garden is a platform for research, environmental education, and in situ and ex situ conservation actions – both within and outside its natural environment, with the Educational Nursery, themed gardens, species cataloging, waste management, and many other initiatives.
This is an invitation for you to explore these Cerrado trails at Inhotim: discover the species and stories rooted in this biome.
The Cerrado has only 8% of its territory protected by conservation units.
Brazilian plants that have never been researched. Vegetation that has withstood gold and diamond mining. A rare orchid that grows from stone… How much research can this enormous biodiversity yield? How many seedlings can be generated and reproduced to conserve endangered species?
In this episode of the "Behind the Scenes" series, you'll see the species rescue work of the Botanical Garden team in Mendanha, a district of Diamantina (MG) – an area where endemic, rare, or threatened plants occur.
Inhotim's botanical collection, with its more than 4.000 botanical species, houses thousands of native species from the Cerrado biome.
Getting to know them means understanding their importance and how they are part of our daily lives, as well as visualizing the steps you can take to preserve them too.
Getting to know them means understanding their importance and how they are part of our daily lives, as well as visualizing the steps you can take to preserve them too.
Did you hear the buzzing?
The Cerrado is home to 13% of butterflies and 35% of bees — both important pollinators of native flora — and 23% of termites — important in soil formation and function.
Stingless bees are the main pollinators of native flora. Despite playing such an important role, they are under serious threat.
Meliponiculture, the raising of stingless bees, contributes to the balance of biomes. At Inhotim, they have gained a dedicated space.
The backlands are a world unto themselves, but a world within the Cerrado.
You crossed paths, learned where a large part of the country's water resources originate, discovered new species, and remembered those that were part of your childhood.
In the publication "Being from the Cerrado: Knowledge and Diversity in the Gardens of Inhotim," specialists, academics, and the Inhotim Botanical Garden team address the biome from different perspectives.
Protecting the Cerrado means recognizing the richness and importance of this biome, territory, and source of biodiversity in Brazil.
