Condition index for Cerrado springs: A simplified and efficient tool for conservation planning

Springs are essential for water security in the Cerrado (Neotropical Savanna Biome), especially considering its prolonged dry periods. However, the protection of these environments is often compromised by various human activities, necessitating the creation of plans for protecting and rehabilitating already degraded springs. Thus, assessing the environmental condition of springs is essential for adopting effective protection or rehabilitation measures. Therefore, the aim of this study is to apply protocols for assessing spring environmental conditions in the Cerrado. To achieve this, we conducted a literature review of existing environmental protocol models, adapted them after considering Cerrado environmental conditions, and field-tested a protocol termed the Spring Condition Index (SCI). We used linear models to measure the relationship between SCI scores and physical-chemical variables of water and local vegetation. We assessed a total of 41 springs, and SCI values ranged from 0.61 to 0.94, where values closer to 1 indicated a more preserved spring. SCI showed a positive linear relationship with dissolved oxygen and landscape vegetation cover, and a negative linear relationship with water temperature, pH, and electrical conductivity. Despite a macroscopic analysis, these results indicate that SCI is effective and robust for measuring spring environmental condition, with the advantage of being conducted in just a few minutes. Thus, we suggest its application throughout the biome so that springs with lower SCI values can be quickly identified and prioritized for rehabilitation in the Cerrado Biome.