Riparian vegetation plays a very important role in protecting natural resources and
conserving biodiversity. However, the area occupied by this vegetation has diminished
over the last decades due to the anthropic actions, disregarding its relevance. This
study evaluates the potential loss of vegetation diversity of riparian zones with the
construction of large hydroelectric projects in cascade in the cerrado biome from the
analysis of information obtained in studies of floristic survey and monitoring of four
large hydroelectric dams built in the Tocantins river basin. The research was carried
out from the licensing studies of four hydroelectric power plants (São Salvador, Peixe
Angical, Lajeado and Estreito) built along the Tocantins River, in the Tocantins basin.
The data collection was done in official documents (Studies and Environmental Impact
Report of the Hydroelectric Power Plants) obtained in the institutions that acted in the
licensing. The analyzes were performed based on the frequency of occurrence of
species and families in each HPU, applying percentage calculations and Jaccard
Similarity Index. Considering the results obtained, the present study suggests that the
construction of the studied UHEs generated great negative effects on the plant
diversity of the cerrado around the Tocantins basin, with the need to deepen the
environmental impact studies and develop viable strategic plans for reduction of
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