In Spanish, the word cerrado means closed, shut, thick or dense, but in Brazil, the word has been used to describe an arid ecosystem and all the native species that are adapted to live in its seasonally variable climate. Where is the Cerrado? The Cerrado is located in the highlands of Central Brazil and covers about 2 million km2 or 21% of the Brazilian territory. It represents the second largest biome in South America, after the Amazon. The total area is equivalent to the size of Germany, France, England, Italy, and Spain all combined. Why is the Cerrado a hotspot of biodiversity? To be classified as a biodiversity hotspot, a region must have a high number of organisms that are not found anywhere else on earth. Also, the region must be in danger of being destroyed and have less than 30% of its natural vegetation. A hotspot, in other words, has an irreplaceable biodiversity. The Cerrado has over 4,800 species of plants and vertebrates (animals with backbones) found nowhere else on the planet.

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