The Shady Future of the Rupestrian Grassland: Major Threats to Conservation and Challenges in the Anthropocene
In spite of the increasing number of studies on the Rupestrian Grassland, the knowledge generated is insufficient to promote further conservation due to the rapid pace of impacts caused by human disturbances. These disturbances include biological invasions, afforestation, mining, road construction, tourism, fire, plant extraction, cattle ranching, and agriculture, among others. They vary from region to region but, in combination with climate change, these impacts could lead to an unseen wave of extinction of species and habitats and thereby impacting biodiversity and ecosystem health. Specific planning and conservation actions should be designed urgently in order to save the most speciose Brazilian ecosystem.