Brazil biodiversity and land rights conservation

Efforts to preserve Brazil’s biodiversity and ecosystems have expanded from a focus on native plant conservation to broader political and legal movements protecting major biomes and traditional territories.

Initial discussions highlighted the ecological importance of native species, such as Pau-Brasil and Palmito-Juçara, which face extinction from deforestation, climate change, and invasive species. Experts emphasized that utilizing native plants is essential for ecological health across Brazil’s diverse climate types.

This focus has evolved into organized political action regarding the Cerrado biome. The ‘#VotePeloCerrado’ campaign has introduced a commitment document for the 2026 elections, advocating for the demarcation of indigenous lands and the protection of quilombola territories to combat land grabbing and deforestation. These efforts come as data shows over half of the Cerrado’s native vegetation has been destroyed and water surfaces in its basins have significantly declined. Concurrently, the Federal Public Ministry has convened national meetings to develop legal strategies against mining impacts and rising criminality in traditional communities.