Get to know the Cerrado

WWF-Brasil

19 Jan 201502:51

Summary

TLDRThe Sahara, a crucial savanna in Brazil, covers over 2 million square kilometers and is a vital link between Brazil's major biomes. Despite being home to 30% of Brazil's biodiversity and crucial for water conservation, the Sahara has lost over half of its original vegetation, with less than 3% protected. Known as the cradle of Brazil's freshwater resources, it supplies three major aquifers and six of the country's largest watersheds. Its deep-rooted trees act like a giant sponge, distributing water throughout the region. To help preserve this vital ecosystem, WWF urges people to learn more and support their conservation efforts.

Takeaways

🏜️ The Sahara covers a quarter of Brazil's national territory, spanning over 2 million square kilometers.
🌎 It is the second-largest natural landscape in South America and the most biologically rich savanna in the world.
🦔 The Sahara shelters 5% of the planet's species and 30% of Brazil's biodiversity.
🌿 The Sahara connects four of Brazil's five biomes and acts as a bridge between the Amazon, Caatinga, Atlantic Forest, and Pantanal.
😢 More than half of the Sahara's original vegetation has already disappeared, and less than 3% of its area is effectively protected.
💧 The Sahara is considered the cradle of Brazil's freshwater resources, supplying three aquifers and six of the eight largest watersheds in Brazil.
🌳 The Sahara's smaller trees have deep roots, acting like a sponge that absorbs and distributes water throughout the region.
⚠️ The Sahara's water distribution is crucial for human consumption, electricity generation, and agricultural production in Brazil.
🚨 If the Sahara is not conserved, many species—including humans—will face the risks of water scarcity, hunger, and energy shortages.
🖥️ The WWF is working to protect the Sahara, and people can contribute by learning more and spreading awareness through their website.

Q & A

What is the Sahara mentioned in the script?
-The script refers to the Cerrado, a vast savanna region in Brazil, which is mistakenly called the Sahara. It covers over 2 million square kilometers and is the second largest natural landscape in South America.
How does the Cerrado contribute to Brazil's biodiversity?
-The Cerrado is home to 5% of the planet's species and 30% of Brazil's biodiversity, making it the most biologically rich savanna in the world.
What role does the Cerrado play in connecting Brazil's ecosystems?
-The Cerrado acts as a crucial link, connecting four of Brazil's five biomes, including the Amazon, Caatinga, Atlantic Forest, and Pantanal.
Why is the Cerrado important for water conservation in Brazil?
-The Cerrado is considered the cradle of Brazil's freshwater resources, supplying three major aquifers and six of the eight largest watersheds in the country, as well as the entire Pantanal.
How does the Cerrado's vegetation contribute to water distribution?
-The Cerrado's smaller trees with deeper roots act like a giant sponge, absorbing and distributing water throughout the region, which is vital for the survival of a large part of Brazil's population.
What are the consequences if the Cerrado disappears?
-If the Cerrado disappears, the link between other ecosystems would be broken, potentially leading to the endangerment of particular species, and affecting water supply for human consumption, electricity generation, and production.
What percentage of the Cerrado's original vegetation has been lost?
-More than half of the Cerrado's original vegetation has already been stripped away.
What percentage of the Cerrado is effectively protected?
-Less than 3% of the Cerrado's area is effectively protected.
How can individuals help in conserving the Cerrado?
-Individuals can help by becoming a member of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and spreading awareness about the Cerrado's importance through sharing information and engaging with the provided resources.
What action can be taken to learn more about the Cerrado and support conservation efforts?
-By typing 'WWF gorg BR', one can find out more about the Cerrado and become a WWF member, or by visiting and sharing the webpage mentioned in the script.
Why is information crucial in the fight against environmental destruction, as mentioned in the script?
-Information is essential because it raises awareness, educates the public, and empowers individuals to make informed decisions and take action to protect and conserve ecosystems like the Cerrado.

Outlines

00:00

🌿 The Sahara: A Vast and Vital Ecosystem

The paragraph introduces the Sahara as a significant ecological region, correcting a common misconception by clarifying that it is not the Sahara Desert but rather a savanna in Brazil. It covers an expansive area of over 2 million square kilometers, making it the second largest natural landscape in South America and the most biologically rich savanna globally. The region is home to 5% of the planet's species and 30% of Brazil's biodiversity. The Sahara serves as a crucial connector, linking four out of Brazil's five biomes, acting as a bridge between the Amazon, Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, and Pantanal. Its disappearance would sever the ecological link between these systems. The paragraph also highlights the Sahara's importance in water conservation, supplying three major aquifers and six of Brazil's largest watersheds, and比喻它为一个巨大的海绵，吸收并分配水分，对维持大部分人口的生存至关重要。 The script concludes with a call to action, urging viewers to join WWF and help conserve the Sahara to prevent environmental degradation.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Savanna

A savanna is a mixed woodland grassland ecosystem characterized by the trees being sufficiently widely spaced so that the canopy does not close. The term savanna is a loanword from Portuguese, which in turn is a loanword from Tupi or Guarani. The savanna is a key concept in the video, as it highlights the Sahara as the most biologically rich savanna in the world, emphasizing its importance to global biodiversity.

💡Biodiversity

Biodiversity refers to the variety of life in all its forms and levels of organization, from genes to ecosystems. It is a critical concept in the video, as it underscores the Sahara's role in supporting 5% of the planet's species and 30% of Brazil's biodiversity, illustrating the region's ecological richness and its importance for conservation efforts.

💡Ecosystems

Ecosystems are complex networks of living organisms interacting with each other and their physical environment. In the video, the term is used to describe the interconnectedness of various biomes in Brazil, such as the Amazon, Cerrado, Atlantic Forest, and Pantanal, which are all linked by the Sahara, highlighting its role as a vital connector in the country's ecological landscape.

💡Aquifers

An aquifer is an underground layer of water-bearing permeable rock, rock fractures, or unconsolidated materials from which groundwater can be extracted using a water well. The video mentions that the Sahara is considered the cradle of Brazil's freshwater resources, supplying three gigantic aquifers, which is crucial for understanding its importance to water conservation in the region.

💡Watersheds

A watershed, also known as a catchment, is an area of land that drains all the streams and rivers into a common outlet, such as a river, lake, or reservoir. The video points out that the Sahara alone supplies six of the eight largest watersheds in Brazil, emphasizing its critical role in the country's water supply and the potential impact of its degradation on water availability.

💡Deforestation

Deforestation is the process of clearing forests or stands of trees for various purposes, such as agriculture, logging, or urban development. The video states that the Sahara has been stripped of more than half of its original vegetation, which is a form of deforestation. This is a significant issue because it threatens the region's biodiversity and its ability to act as a water source.

💡Conservation

Conservation refers to the preservation, protection, or restoration of the natural environment, particularly the natural habitats and ecosystems. The video emphasizes the need for conservation efforts in the Sahara, as its degradation could lead to the endangerment of species and the disruption of essential water supply systems, affecting both the environment and human populations.

💡WWF

WWF stands for the World Wide Fund for Nature, an international non-governmental organization founded in 1961, working on issues regarding the conservation, research, and restoration of the environment. The video encourages viewers to become WWF members to support conservation efforts, specifically in the context of the Sahara, which is a call to action for viewers to engage in environmental protection.

💡Endangered Species

Endangered species are those that are at risk of extinction due to various threats, including habitat loss, climate change, and human activities. The video warns that if the Sahara is not conserved, particular species will become highly endangered, linking the health of the ecosystem directly to the survival of its constituent species.

💡Environmental Destruction

Environmental destruction refers to the long-term decline of the natural environment and its resources due to human activities or natural disasters. The video's message is a call to fight against environmental destruction, particularly in the Sahara, which is under threat from deforestation and other human-induced changes that could lead to the loss of its ecological functions.

Highlights

The Sahara covers a quarter of Brazil's national territory.

It spans over 2 million square kilometers.

The Sahara is the second largest natural landscape in South America.

It is the most biologically rich savanna in the world.

The Sahara harbors 5% of the planet's species and 30% of Brazil's biodiversity.

The Sahara serves as a crucial connecting link to four of Brazil's five biomes.

It acts as a bridge between the Amazon, Cerrado, Atlantic forest, and Pantanal.

The disappearance of the Sahara would break the link between other ecosystems.

More than half of the Sahara's original vegetation has been stripped.

Less than 3% of the Sahara's area is effectively protected.

The Sahara was considered the cradle of Brazil's freshwater resources.

It supplies three gigantic aquifers and six of the eight largest watersheds in Brazil.

The Sahara is vital to water conservation in Brazil.

It acts like a giant sponge, absorbing and distributing water throughout the region.

The Sahara's conservation is essential for the survival of a large part of Brazil's population.

Failure to conserve the Sahara could lead to species endangerment, hunger, thirst, and darkness.

People are working to ensure the Sahara's conservation.

Becoming a WWF member or sharing information can help in the conservation efforts.