Can our current knowledge and practice allow ecological restoration in the Cerrado?

NATÁLIA F. MEDEIROS,GERALDO WILSON FERNANDES,RICARDO R.C. SOLAR,THAÍSE O. BAHIA,ANANZA MARA RABELLO

doi:10.1590/0001-3765202120200665

Abstract

Ecological knowledge plays a significant role in ensuring efficient ecological restoration. We conducted a systematic review to assess if sufficient ecological knowledge has been accumulated to aid restoration practices for the Cerrado, a Brazilian biome dominated by savanna ecosystems and threatened by anthropogenic disturbances. Most Cerrado restoration studies were performed by few research groups and focused primarily on two vegetation types: cerrado sensu stricto (typical savanna) and riparian forest. We also found that defining reference ecosystems and selecting plant species for restoration programs is neglected, mostly disregarding their original occurrence and proportion of plant growth forms. Furthermore, studies lacked standardized and systematic evaluation of restoration outcomes. Hence, we argue that current ecological knowledge is insufficient to guarantee the success of large-scale ecological restoration of the Cerrado. We strengthen the need to explicitly define the reference ecosystem for each Cerrado ecosystem and use its structure and composition as guidance for ecological restoration research, which should be based on a scientific approach. We encourage investigations into ecological dynamics and natural regeneration of the different vegetation types of the Cerrado and highlight the importance of integrating such knowledge with environmental laws, societal engagement and cost-effective techniques to advance Cerrado ecological restoration.

Highlights

The current expansion of human activities has led to unprecedented conversion, degradation and fragmentation of native ecosystems (Fahrig 2003, Newbold et al 2015) with dreadful consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem functions worldwide (Barlow et al 2016, Fernandes et al 2018)
When cerrado sensu lato appeared in Reflora virtual herbarium as a vegetation type that a plant species naturally occurrs, we considered that the species could be used in resoration of campo limpo, campo sujo, campo cerrado, cerrado sensu stricto and cerradão
There was a predominance of research efforts involving a few research groups from some public institutions, such as the Universidade de Brasília (UnB), Universidade Estadual de Campinas (Unicamp) and Escola Superior de Agricultura Luiz de Queiroz (ESALQ-USP)

Summary

Introduction

The current expansion of human activities has led to unprecedented conversion, degradation and fragmentation of native ecosystems (Fahrig 2003, Newbold et al 2015) with dreadful consequences for biodiversity and ecosystem functions worldwide (Barlow et al 2016, Fernandes et al 2018). Conservation initiatives aiming to maintain native vegetation have been increasingly fostered throughout the globe, but it is disputable whether they will be enough and in time (Rands et al 2010). The ramping rates of degradation and fragmentation require multiple actions to fully conserve biodiversity and ecosystems, including ecological restoration of degraded ecosystems (Suding et al 2015). The establishment of a consistent ecological foundation is key to guiding restoration practices into a sciencebased approach that ensures successful results.

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