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Recent research into solutions for conserving the Cerrado biome focuses on a model of territorial organization that brings together the technical adaptation of large agricultural producers and the strengthening of protected areas, without addressing the potential of the sustainable use of biodiversity by agroextractivist communities. Based on fieldwork conducted in three Brazilian states, this article analyzes whether the recognition and valorization of agroextractivist products can constitute a contribution to local development and the conservation of biodiversity in the Cerrado. Our studies show that traditional agroextractivist practices in rural communities are threatened by agricultural and environmental policies that impose technical models that take little account of their specificities. What is more, by focusing on non-timber products, the initiatives for the valorization of agroextractivist systems are essentially inspired by the Amazonian experiments, neglecting the complexity of the Cerrado’s traditional production systems.