Cerrado wetlands in São Paulo state: categories, threats and gaps in conservation policies

• Grant number: 24/00125-2
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Doctorate (Direct)
• Start date: August 01, 2024
• End date: July 31, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Biological Sciences - Ecology - Applied Ecology
• Principal Investigator: Giselda Durigan
• Grantee: Andra Carolina Dalbeto
• Supervisor: Bradford Wilcox
• Host Institution: Instituto de Pesquisas Ambientais (IPA). Secretaria de Meio Ambiente, Infraestrutura e Logística (São Paulo - Estado). São Paulo , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: Texas A&M University, United States
• Associated to the scholarship: 22/08994-4 - Variability of wetlands at different spatial scales and conditioning factors: implications for conservation, BP.DD

Abstract

Knowledge about biodiversity at different spatial scales and the factors that influence plant communities across various spatial scales. However, the insufficient understanding and recognition of Cerrado wetlands in Brazil lead to biases in decisions regarding their categorization, legislation, and conservation. This project aims to support conservation strategies for Cerrado wetlands by examining their ecological attributes and main threats in São Paulo state. To achieve this, micro-watersheds in the analyzed sites of São Paulo state will be delimited, examining landscape and environmental descriptors potentially impacting wetlands' richness and diversity. Additionally, landscape metrics will be measured alongside the delineation of land uses and their coverage in the watershed. Temporal images will be examined to gather data on woody encroachment and fire history. Statistical analysis of these data will access the influence of predictor variables (landscape, environment, land use) on response variables related to the conservation status of ecosystems and studied plant communities in Brazil. Subsequently, we will analyze the classification of these wetlands using various methodologies and assess the legal framework to check the level of protection in each locality. This study will advance the understanding of wetland ecology and could guide conservation policies. It is part of a broader effort approved by the Biota-FAPESP Program, exploring natural areas in drylands, encompassing both the Cerrado and high-altitude regions.