Cerrado biome loses 13.9 million hectares of riverbank vegetation

The Brazilian Cerrado biome has lost 13.9 million hectares of native vegetation located within 500 meters of rivers and watercourses between 1985 and 2025. According to data from MapBiomas, this loss represents 26.9% of all green cover converted to other uses during this period.

Research analyst Bárbara Costa from IPAM noted that the reduction in riparian vegetation can compromise water quality and availability, while increasing vulnerability to extreme weather events such as droughts and intense rainfall. This vegetation is critical for protecting soil, reducing erosion, and preventing sediment from entering waterways.

Among the six major hydrographic basins originating in the Cerrado, the Alto Tocantins basin saw the highest loss, with 2.9 million hectares removed. The Araguaia basin followed with a loss of 2.7 million hectares. Together, these two basins account for 41% of the total riparian vegetation reduction recorded in the biome.

Overall, the Cerrado has seen a net loss of 51.7 million hectares of native vegetation, a 34% reduction. Savanna formations were the most impacted, losing 41% of their area. Much of this lost vegetation has been replaced by agricultural and livestock activities, which expanded from 46.7 million to 97.9 million hectares.