Florística e conservação de uma área de canga na região do quadrilátero ferrífero, Minas Gerais, Brasil

Abstract

This study focuses on the biodiversity and conservation of Ferruginous Rupestrian Grasslands (FRG), also known as ferruginous cangas, located in the Quadrilátero Aquífero-Ferrífero (QAF) region in Minas Gerais, Brazil. Renowned for its high biological diversity and elevated endemism, this region faces significant threats due to intense mining activities and insufficient environmental protection measures. The research focuses on Serra do Pires, located in the southern part of the QAF, an area that houses extensive ferruginous canga formations, whose flora is largely unknown to science. The floristic inventory conducted in Serra do Pires identified 484 species of vascular plants, distributed across 309 genera and 98 families, 18 of which are endemic to the Quadrilátero Ferrífero and 23 are listed under some threat category. These data reflect the uniqueness of the local ecosystems and the predominance of characteristic physiognomies such as clean and dirty fields with rock outcrops and cangas. Additionally, the study assesses the distribution and status of Conservation Units (CUs) in the QAF, revealing uneven and insufficient protection of the FRG, areas of high biodiversity. Spatial analysis, combined with data from Digital Elevation Models (DEM), shows that approximately 12.65% of the QAF, located above 1,100 meters in altitude, can be classified as FRG. However, the existing CUs are inadequate to ensure effective conservation of these ecosystems. The study also highlights the importance of social movements in environmental protection, emerging as essential actors in defending critical areas such as Pico da Pedra Grande and Serra do Pires, pointing to the need for more robust public policies and an integrated approach to land management to ensure biodiversity preservation.