Traditional healers are preserving their knowledge, and with it, the biodiversity of Brazil’s savanna
by Sarah Sax on 12 March 2021
The Brazilian savanna contains almost a third of Brazil’s biodiversity but less than 10% is officially protected and its native vegetation is threatened by a rapidly-advancing agricultural frontier.
Much of the flora and fauna remain unknown to conventional science.
A network of traditional healers is at the forefront of finding ways to protect, sustainably manage, and document the biodiversity based on their in-depth knowledge of medicinal plants.
Experts say that finding ways to value the savanna more, such as through recognizing its immense botanical and pharmacological value, could aid in its conservation.