Format: ORAL

Gabriel R. Vedovello, Natashi L. Pilon, Rafael S. Oliveira

Department of Botany, Institute of Biology, Campinas State University, Campinas, Brazil

The Cerrado, a biodiversity hotspot, with only 1% of the total area legally protected, has its diverse flora at risk due to land conversion and facing local species extinctions. The Chapada dos Veadeiros National Park (CVNT), a UNESCO World Heritage site, appears as an iconic protected area, presenting a rich, heterogeneous and representative Cerrado flora. Hence, filling research gaps regarding patterns of diversity within the park, such as species composition on small-scales, beta diversity patterns and degree of threat. Here, the study goal was to evaluate and categorize flora composition across different vegetation types, considering vegetation coverage, species distribution and vulnerability. The study was conducted by analyzing open databases and literature reviews. Considering CVNP legal perimeter and surrounding vegetation patches, it was found a coverage of open environments of 65% (52% savannas), harboring 33% of unique species considering the total species pool already cataloged in the park. In contrast only 13% consists of forest vegetation, but exhibiting similar species richness, and about 32,5% of unique species. However, the bias of collection for woody and forest species is well known, even in savanna ecosystems, which might result in this similar percentage of species. Over 20% of the area is human altered, underscoring the urgent need for conservation and restoration actions. Threats such as biological invasion, tree planting, and unnatural fire regimes endanger both open and forested landscapes. The park flora represent almost a third of the total Cerrado species. Over 90% of the park species cataloged lack vulnerability data, and those with data are classified to some degree of threat. Our results pointed out the need to increase the taxonomic studies in critical biodiversity hotspots and urge to better catalog non-woody vegetation. This information is the basis for conservation actions in areas with global importance such as Chapada dos Veadeiros.