“Savannization of the Amazon” is a term that reinforces the Cerrado neglect

Abstract

Words and terms evoke responses in us, independently of their original meaning. Precise language matters because terminology can affect conservation. For example, current deforestation rates put the Amazon in the spotlight of global conservation, particularly after the “savannization of the Amazon” was proposed. This term associates cleared or degraded forests with savannas, reinforcing prejudices against natural savannas. The Cerrado is the world’s largest and richest savanna, but receives less conservation attention and resources. Firstly, we showed a multisector Cerrado neglect: number of protected areas, non-governmental organizations, academic human resources, and companies were larger in the Amazon, but deforested area was proportionally smaller. Secondly, we analyzed the academic use of “savannization of the Amazon.” In all 481 studies using this term, human action was implied, and most meant that degraded Amazon does not become old-growth savanna. We propose abandoning the use of “savannization of the Amazon”, promoting the support and attention the Cerrado needs.