@article{fdi:010093574,
  title = {{D}evegetation is a widespread driver of fire in the {B}razilian {C}errado},
  author = {{S}padoni, {G}. {L}. and {M}oris, {J}. {V}. and {S}egura-{G}arcia, {C}. and {P}essoa, {A}. {C}. and {J}ones, {M}. {W}. and {M}achado, {M}. {S}. and {M}otta, {R}. and {A}lencar, {A}. {A}. {C}. and {A}scoli, {D}. and {O}liveras {M}enor, {I}mma},
  editor = {},
  language = {{ENG}},
  abstract = {{T}he {C}errado is the largest tropical savanna in the world, featuring a wide range of vegetation types with different sensitivity to fire. {T}he structure, functioning and rich biodiversity of the non-forest formations is intimately associated with the presence of fire, which historically has acted both as a natural disturbance and as a tool used by {I}ndigenous communities. {C}urrently, the {B}razilian {C}errado is threatened by substantial devegetation (i.e., conversion of native vegetation to human land uses) and alterations in the fire regime (e.g., frequency, seasonality), negatively impacting biodiversity, local communities, and global climate regulation. {A}lthough it known that land conversion can lead to fires in the {C}errado, the extent and proportion of burned area attributable to this process remain unclear. {T}his study, covering the period 2003-2020, quantifies both the surface native vegetation lost through land conversion (devegetation) and the area burned by fires ignited in converted areas, focusing on the portion of the {C}errado included in the state of {M}ato {G}rosso and the {MATOPIBA} region. {U}sing geospatial data on devegetation ({PRODES} {C}errado), fires ({G}lobal {F}ire {A}tlas), and land use ({M}ap{B}iomas), we classified individual fires into {D}evegetation {R}elated {F}ires ({DRF}) or devegetation {I}ndependent {F}ires ({IF}). {DRF} were those ignited within or in close proximity to devegetated patches up to two years following the conversion, while {IF} included all other fires. {W}e further examined differences in seasonality and size distribution between {DRF} and {IF}, and analysed {DRF} prevalence across different land tenures, including {I}ndigenous {T}erritories, {P}rotected {A}reas, and private lands. {O}ver the 18-year study period, {DRF} burned, with distinctive seasonality and reduced average fire size, approximately 20 million hectares within the study area, which represents about quarter of the total native vegetation area. {T}his accounts for approximately 12 % of the total burned area in the study region and is comparable to the size of the devegetated area during the same period (around 15 million hectares). {A}lthough governance systems like strictly {P}rotected {A}reas and {I}ndigenous {T}erritories limited devegetation, they could not prevent impacts from {DRF}, which burned 12 % and 16 % of their total native vegetation area, respectively. {T}hese findings highlight the urgent need to halt devegetation and regulate fire use in the {C}errado through integrated fire management policies.},
  keywords = {{F}ires ; {D}eforestation ; {L}and use ; {S}avanna ; {MATOPIBA} ; {BRESIL} ; {MATO} {GROSSO}, {MARANH}Ã{O} ; {TOCANTINS} ; {PIAU}Í ; {BAHIA}},
  booktitle = {},
  journal = {{J}ournal of {E}nvironmental {M}anagement},
  volume = {385},
  numero = {},
  pages = {125637 [12 p.]},
  ISSN = {0301-4797},
  year = {2025},
  DOI = {10.1016/j.jenvman.2025.125637},
  URL = {https://www.documentation.ird.fr/hor/fdi:010093574},
}