Overview

The Cerrado biome covers almost 25 percent (200 million ha) of Brazil. It is one of the largest savanna-forest complexes in the world, containing a diverse mosaic of habitat types. However, over the last two decades, the Cerrado has undergone an intense, swiftly-paced conversion to other uses which has given little consideration to the economic potential that lies in the sustainable use of the area’s resources for pharmaceuticals, food, oils, resins, or ecotourism, or to the environmental services it provides such as soil erosion control, water supply and others.

As one of the richest and most threatened biomes on the planet, the Cerrado is considered one of the world’s biodiversity hotspots. However, until recently only 1.5 percent of its area was officially protected in established conservation sites. In a bid to stimulate private sector participation in conservation and enhance overall coverage of the national PA system, the Brazilian government created a legal status for Private Natural Heritage Reserves (RPPNs) in 1996. RPPNs are defined as ‘areas of private domain, to be specially protected under the owner’s initiative, with formal recognition by government, because of the notable importance of the area’s biodiversity, or landscape characteristics, or other environmental features requiring restoration efforts’. To be recognized as a RPPN, the reserve must be registered in perpetuity, so that neither descendants nor new owners may change its use. Incentives, such as tax breaks and assistance in establishing sustainable economic activities, were offered to participating landowners. A more recent Brazilian law gave legal status to a National System of Nature Conservation (SNUC) which includes RPPNs as an integral part of its classifications.

Project description

This project worked in partnership with private landowners and NGOs to facilitate the expansion of the PA network in the Cerrado region. It sought to increase the area under protection status by establishing RPPNs, in areas near, or adjacent to, Chapada dos Veadeiros and Grande Sertão Veredas – two of the Cerrado’s five National Parks – which together represent 42 percent of the total area of the five parks.

The project established a framework for the establishment and management of RPPNs in the Cerrado that is relevant for the establishment of private reserves throughout Brazil. Conservation capacity was built in the new RPPNs by drawing up management plans; and providing training in PA planning and management and ecotourism development; and through the establishment of a RPPN support network, consisting of RPPN managers, NGOs, relevant government staff members and local communities. Particular importance was given to demonstrating the economic benefits that arise from the establishment of RPPNs in order to stimulate replication by other landowners.