Cerrado: Brazil's water tank

As it is home to sources of several important Brazilian rivers, theCerrado is known as the water tank of Brazil. With an area strategically located in the center of the country, this biome comprises, according to the Institute Brazilian Geography and Statics (IBGE), nine of the twelve existing hydrographic basins in the territory Brazilian.

In addition to its geographical position, the topography of the region also favors this characteristic of the Cerrado, giving this biome great socio-environmental importance. The relief with medium altitudes, predominantly the plateau, also favors the springs present in this biome to other regions, helping in the distribution of water resources throughout the Brazilian territory.

Know more:The main characteristics of the Cerrado biome

Cerrado hydrographic basins

The Cerrado comprises nine of the twelve watersheds present in the Brazilian territory. Are they:

Watersheds	Features
Araguaia River Hydrographic Basin	The main river in this basin is the Rio Araguaia: 81% of this basin is located in the region comprised by the Cerrado biome. This river rises in the Serra de Caiapó and is considered one of the most important wetland systems in central Brazil.
São Francisco River Basin	The São Francisco River has about 90% of its sources in the areas comprised by the Cerrado biome. Despite this, more than half of the waters in this basin are found outside this biome.
Tocantins River Hydrographic Basin	The Tocantins River is born in the Goiás plateau region, in the Serra dos Pirineus, and is favorable to the construction of a hydroelectric plant, a fact that has greatly affected this basin.
Amazon Peripheral Basin	This basin comprises the Madeira, Tapajós and Xingu rivers. The Xingu River has springs that cover the Cerrado biome region.
Paraná River Hydrographic Basin	The Paraná River, which contains the Itaipu Hydroelectric Power Plant, has its main sources in the Cerrado.
Paraguay River Hydrographic Basin	The Paraguay River has its main sources coming from the Cerrado. Despite this, most of this basin is located in the Pantanal biome.
Parnaíba River Hydrographic Basin	The Parnaíba River divides its sources between the Cerrado and Caatinga biomes. This river plays an important role in waterway transport.
Atlantic Peripheral Basin	It comprises the basins of the Rio Doce, Rio Jequitinhonha and Rio Pardo.
Peripheral Basin of the Maranhense Gulf	The main rivers that make up this basin are: Munim, Mearim, Pindaré and Itapecuru. In the basin of the Rio Munim, there is the Lençóis Maranhenses National Park.

The São Francisco River has about 90% of its sources in the region comprised by the Cerrado.

Why is the Cerrado considered Brazil's water tank?

As it comprises nine of the twelve hydrographic basins existing in Brazilian territory, the Cerrado biome is considered the water reservoir of Brazil. Its location in the central portion of the country, added to its topographic elevation and the large presence of springs, gives this biome the characteristic of a water reservoir in Brazil.

The Cerrado concentrates a large part of the sources of important Brazilian rivers. Its forest domains, therefore, supply most of the rivers in Brazil. According to the NGO WWF-Brasil, around 90% of the energy consumed in Brazil comes from the production of rivers whose waters originate in the Cerrado. The main rivers in this biome with springs coming from this region are the Araguaia, São Francisco and Tocantins.

Why is the Cerrado considered the cradle of water?

In addition to comprising nine of the twelve hydrographic basins existing in Brazil, the Cerrado also encompasses a region that houses three large aquifers: Guarani, Bambuí and Urucuia. The waters from the Cerrado supply these aquifers, thus playing an important role in feeding continental water resources. The forests in the Cerrado have deep roots, capable of capturing rainwater and supplying these aquifers.

Cerrado Aquifers

Aquifers are very permeable geological formations made up of rocks with high porosity, which allow the storage of large volumes of rainwater. The Cerrado is home to three aquifers:

1. Guarani Aquifer: considered the largest underground water reserve in the world, being, therefore, an important source for water consumption. It extends through the Southeast, South and Center-West regions of Brazil.

2. Bambuí Aquifer: comprises the region of the São Francisco Sedimentary Basin, covering parts of the states of Goiás, Tocantins, Minas Gerais and Bahia. It is divided between the Cerrado and Caatinga biomes.

3. Urucuia Aquifer: located in the region comprised by the Cerrado, extending through the states of Bahia, Tocantins, Goiás, Piauí, Maranhão and Minas Gerais.

The Tocantins River, one of the main rivers in the Cerrado biome, has springs from that biome.

​​​​What are the main rivers in the Cerrado?

The Cerrado comprises a strategic region, encompassing several hydrographic basins in the country. The main rivers with springs in the region of this biome are:

• Araguaia River

• Tocantins River

• São Francisco River

• Paraguay River

• Parnaíba River

• Gurupi River

• Jequitinhonha River

• Parana River

Cerrado Conservation

Preserving the Cerrado is fundamental to maintaining the ecological balance and water resources in Brazil. In addition to concentrating a large part of Brazilian biodiversity, this biome comprises large underground water reserves, which supply the main hydrographic basins.

Unfortunately, according to the Brazilian Institute for the Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA), in recent decades, the Cerrado has been reduced by around 48.4%, a greater reduction than that of deforestation in the Amazon. This intense devastation suggests that, in a few decades, the supply of water resources could be affected, as the Existing plant formations in the Cerrado are responsible for capturing rainwater to supply the aquifers that feed the rivers of Brazil. Agricultural expansion is one of the main reasons for the devastation of this biome. Reconciling it with the preservation of the environment has been a great challenge.

Read too:Cerrado degradation