Typical rock outrcrop in the Serra do Cipó, with a newly discovered species of Cipocereus (Cactaceae) in flower amongst species of Velloziaceae (Daniela Zappi©).
Wunderlichia mirabilis (Compositae) in the foreground, with cerrado vegetation (dark green) and cleared land (pale brown) patches in the lowland (Daniela Zappi©).
The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation provided a grant of £30,000 in 2007/08 to one of the RBGs Kew's Overseas Projects.
Working towards improving conservation in one of the richest plant biodiversity areas of Brazil, Projeto Toucan Cipó is investigating the flora of the campo rupestre, cerrado and associated vegetation types. The study area is located between the presently protected Parque Nacional da Serra do Cipó and the Diamantina region, within an area highlighted for the importance of its biodiversity. Despite not being presently included within a protected area, the site is strategically placed in the middle of a corridor of high ecological significance. Increasing threats to the local vegetation include the recent development of steel manufacturing plants in the neighbouring cities of Sete Lagoas and Belo Horizonte. The associated increase in demand for fuel has affected the local cerrado vegetation, which is burned to make charcoal to feed the industry. Data obtained by this project will be used to inform private land owners, NGOs and government agencies of the importance of establishing conservation areas within the municipality, while identifying priorities and raising awareness locally.
With support from The Rufford Maurice Laing Foundation the project has begun vegetation mapping of the area. Satellite data were purchased to perform a detailed survey of the different vegetation types in and around Fazenda Toucan Cipó, and are being processed in order to highlight both natural and disturbed sites. For the wider surrounding area, a vegetation change study, evaluating reduction of the area of cerrado vegetation and its impact in the municipality as a whole, will be prepared between 2008 and 2009. Further field expeditions are planned to perform ground-truthing for the vegetation mapping and to develop the botanical inventory.
Visit the Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew website.