The Upside-Down Forest.
The Brazilian Cerrado is a global biodiversity hotspot, hiding its immense biological wealth beneath a surface of twisted trees and hardy grasses.
In the Cerrado, what you see is only the beginning. To survive a six-month dry season and frequent natural fires, plants have evolved to invest more energy in their roots than their branches. Some shrubs have roots that reach 20 meters deep, tapping into subterranean aquifers. This "underground forest" acts as a massive carbon sink, rivaling the neighboring Amazon in ecological importance.
Evolutionary Pyrophytes
The trees of the Cerrado are pyrophytes—plants adapted to fire. They feature thick, cork-like bark that insulates the living tissue from intense heat. Many species actually require the heat of a fire to crack their seed pods, ensuring that the next generation sprouts when the competition for sunlight has been cleared away.
[Image: Cross-section showing the immense root-to-shoot ratio of Cerrado vegetation]The Water Tower
The Cerrado is often referred to as Brazil's "water tower." Its deep root systems and porous soils allow it to capture and store vast amounts of rainwater, which then feeds eight of the country's twelve major river basins. Protecting the savanna is therefore not just a matter of biodiversity, but a critical necessity for the continent's hydrological security.