Tropical open ecosystems are among the most threatened yet often overlooked in national and international conservation initiatives. The Brazilian Cerrado, South America’s largest savanna, offers a good framework to study this topic. Spanning approximately two million km2, the Cerrado is considered the world’s most biodiverse savanna, home to over 12,000 plant species and 2,300 vertebrate species, with more than 30% endemic. Due to its high biodiversity and considerable threats, with 50% of its original vegetation converted to agriculture and only 8% formally protected, it was designated as a global biodiversity hotspot. Driven by international demand for agricultural commodities, deforestation (clearing of native vegetation) in the Cerrado remains alarmingly high, as land is converted for pasture and croplands. Yet, conservation efforts in the Cerrado have not received the same attention as those in the neighboring Amazon Forest. In 2023, Cerrado deforestation increased by 21%, while the Amazon saw a 34% reduction. This imbalance in conservation focus has contributed to the ongoing degradation of the Cerrado, underscoring the need for more effective strategies to conserve this ecosystem. 

Clearing native Cerrado vegetation not only endangers the biome's biodiversity but also jeopardizes critical ecosystem services like water provision, carbon storage, energy supply, and climate regulation, that ultimately impact agriculture production. It also threatens the livelihoods of traditional communities and small landholders who depend on the Cerrado. Promoting conservation and restoration initiatives, as well as sustainable and equitable land use is essential to address several Sustainable Development Goals, including food and water provision, climate change mitigation, and biodiversity conservation. It is also fundamental that such efforts are planned and executed along with traditional and local communities to guarantee their rights to the land, as well as an equitable provision of social, ecological, and economic benefits.   

This panel convenes experts to discuss the following critical questions: How can we move towards the conservation of open tropical ecosystems, particularly the Brazilian Cerrado? What are the main threats to the Cerrado and their implications for biodiversity, ecosystem services, and local livelihoods? How to promote just and inclusive initiatives for the conservation, restoration and sustainable use of this ecosystem, while integrating diverse approaches and local knowledge? Which successful initiatives could serve as a model for application in similar ecosystems? The discussion fomented in this session aims to increase awareness of open tropical ecosystems in an international context while identifying potential directions for safeguarding Cerrado's ecological and cultural integrity.