The second largest biome in South America, the Cerrado covers an area of 2 million km², around 22% of the national territory. It is home to the headwaters of the three largest hydrographic basins in South America, which results in a high aquifer potential and favors its biodiversity.

The Brazilian Cerrado is recognized as the savannah with the greatest biological diversity in the world. Many populations survive on its natural resources, including indigenous ethnic groups, Quilombolas (Maroons) and river dwellers. Nonetheless, it is the Brazilian biome with the lowest percentage of areas under full protection: 8.21% of its territory is legally protected by conservation units.

After the Atlantic Forest, the Cerrado is the Brazilian biome that has been most affected by human occupation. Due to the growing pressure to open up new areas to produce meat and grains for export, the region’s natural resources have been progressively depleted over the last three decades.

Reclaiming and conserving the Cerrado’s forest cover is crucial for preserving biodiversity and maintaining ecosystem services, especially water supply and energy generation for most of the country’s population.

The Emas-Taquari project is currently taking place on private properties located on the border of the states of Goiás, Mato Grosso and Mato Grosso do Sul, in the Taquari and Araguaia river basins, a biodiversity corridor that links the Nascentes do Taquari State Park to the Emas National Park. Accounting for 10% of all Cerrado areas that have been rehabilitated, the project promotes the protection of springs, native fauna and flora, besides rendering rural properties compliant with current environmental legislation.