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Jorge Cardoso / MMA
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Cerrado: richest savanna in the world
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By: Marta Moraes - Publisher: Marco Moreira
The Cerrado, the second largest biome in Brazil, received on 10 September, to R $ 60 million grant (US $ 16.45 million), to survey and dissemination of information on their forest resources. The contribution is part of the Forest Investment Program (FIP, English Forest Investment Program), under the Climate Investment Fund (CIF, the English Climate Investment Funds) and the Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) is the institution responsible for the management and execution disbursements.
The project, called "Forest Information Oriented Management for Conservation and Use of Forest Cerrado Resources by Public and Private Sectors," will be performed by the Brazilian Forest Service (SFB), bound body of the Ministry of Environment (MMA) and provides for the National Forest Inventory (IFN) in the 11 states that make up the biome and the consolidation of the National Forest Information System (SNIF), a platform, focused on the management and dissemination of information on forest resources of the country.
ESTIMATE
At the end of the project, which lasts 48 months, the company will have at hand detailed estimates of the forest cover area and the different land uses; fragmentation, health and vitality of forests; diversity and abundance of forest species; trees outside forests; estimates of forest stocks (volume and biomass) and carbon stocks above and below ground; soil characteristics under forests; forest management; and even environmental factors such as use of forest products and services by the local population, as well as awareness of the communities on the importance of forests in the Cerrado biome.
The IFN is an initiative of the Brazilian Forest Service, provided for in Article 71 of the new Forest Code (Law No. 12,651 / 2012), to collect information on forest resources of the country in a systematic and regular basis. It aims to produce data on the quality and the state of forests and forest resources of the country, to support the formulation, implementation and execution of public policies for development, use, recovery and conservation of these resources. The data are based on data collection in the field, at about 15,000 points spread systematically across the country.
Earlier, inventories mainly aimed at the monitoring of timber stocks. But, from the United Nations Conference on Environment and Development (Rio 92) and the development of new technologies, national forest inventories have broadened its scope, enhancing the production of information on other topics. Among the issues of greatest interest today are the inventories of biomass and carbon, biodiversity, health and vitality of forests, forest management and social importance that forests play these days.
AVAILABLE
The completion of the National Forest Inventory has been made by biome or State, subject to availability of financial resources and involvement of States. An area corresponding to 102 million hectares has been inventoried. In five states and the Federal District have been completed the field survey data (DF, CE, RN, SE, ES, SC).
In addition to the FIP-Cerrado project, are underway two more projects with the same purpose: "Strengthening of the National Framework of Knowledge and Information to subsidize Sustainable Management Policies of Forest Resources" (with the Global Environment Fund - GEF - Food and Agriculture Organization - FAO) and the "National Forest Inventory in the Amazon Biome" (with the Amazon Fund. - National Bank for Social Development -BNDES)
The FIP-CLOSED
About 5000 points will be visited to collect data in the Cerrado biome. According to the manager of Forest Information SFB, Claudia Rosa, FIP-Cerrado promote improvements in biome management and contribute to reducing emissions of greenhouse gases, from the protection of the stocks of forests and promote sustainable management. "Brazil does not have adequate information on their forest resources and this information is essential to establish public policy, conservation and use of resources," he emphasized.
Claudia pointed out that, from the design, decision makers and society as a whole will have detailed information on the features of the Cerrado and how they are being used by the population. "The information generated will contribute, among other things, to promote sustainable programs aimed at mitigating greenhouse gas emissions," he said.
ABOUT BIOMA
According to the MMA data from the point of view of biological diversity, the Brazilian Cerrado is recognized as the richest savanna in the world, home to 11 627 species of native plants already cataloged. The biome is home to 5% of all species in the world and compresses 30% of Brazilian biodiversity. Besides the environmental aspects, it has great social importance.
Many people survive their natural resources, including indigenous groups, maroon, geraizeiros, riparian, babaçueiras, tide-and maroon communities, which together form part of the Brazilian historical and cultural heritage, and hold a traditional knowledge of biodiversity. < / p>
However, the expansion of the agricultural frontier and predatory exploitation of timber for charcoal production in the last three decades, cause a progressive and exceptional loss of natural habitat. This continuous degradation makes the biome more vulnerable to the effects of global warming. Because of its size and the high amount of fixed carbon in both the biomass and on the ground, the Cerrado presents key role in mitigating the effects of climate change arising.
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