Cerrado wetlands store more carbon than the Amazon

Study shows that Cerrado wetlands act as major carbon sinks and highlights the importance of protecting these ecosystems for climate balance

Source: VEJA — Buriti palm: typical vegetation of Cerrado wetlands (Luis Humberto/Dedoc)

Cerrado Wetlands Store Six Times More Carbon than the Amazon, Study Says

In-depth analysis of the veredas (wetlands) showed that the region is a huge carbon sink and that its deforestation could release a stock accumulated over millennia.

Read more at: https://veja.abril.com.br/agenda-verde/area-umidas-do-cerrado-armazena-seis-vezes-mais-carbono-que-a-amazonia-diz-estudo/

Currently the ecosystem most pressured by deforestation in Brazil, the Cerrado has a significant carbon stock that has been measured for the first time by a group of Brazilian researchers. The result, published in the scientific journal New Phytologist, indicates that the veredas — typical wetlands of the Cerrado, generally associated with waterlogged soils and the presence of buriti palm trees — can store 1,200 metric tons of carbon per hectare, a value that is up to six times higher than the average density observed in areas of the Amazon Rainforest. “Our results show that these areas function as large reservoirs of carbon accumulated over thousands of years,” says biologist and study coordinator Larissa Verona, from Unicamp.

For the detailed evaluation, the study involved collaboration with the Federal University of Minas Gerais, the Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies, the Max Planck Institute, and the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden. The team analyzed the carbon stocks present in deep soils of these wetlands. To do this, they collected soil samples up to four meters deep, something rare. Previous research usually only analyzed surface layers, which varied between about 20 centimeters and one meter. According to the authors, this limitation caused the calculations to drastically underestimate the real carbon stock—in some cases, by up to 95%. It was through this deeper investigation of the soil that the scientists were able to reveal a much larger reservoir, accumulated over thousands of years.

The results help change how the Cerrado is viewed in discussions about climate and conservation. Often remembered for its biodiversity and the rapid expansion of the agricultural frontier, the biome is now also being recognized as an important ally in global climate balance. The discovery suggests that protecting wetlands and other humid areas can play a strategic role in reducing carbon emissions.

At the same time, the study warns that the degradation of these regions—whether through deforestation, soil drainage, or changes in water regimes—can release large amounts of carbon stored for millennia, drastically contributing to the increase in greenhouse gases. For researchers, understanding and preserving these underground reserves is essential to guide conservation policies and climate change mitigation strategies.