why is the atlantic forest important

While the Amazon is the largest and most well-known rain forest in South America, theres another rain forest thats also critically important for nature and people: the Atlantic Forest. Its biodiversity is as impressive as the Amazon's. With HP's support, since 2019, the local teams in the Atlantic Forest have planted more than 390,735 seedlings of 220 different species of plants, including the juara palm. Forests influence the water cycle through a process called transpiration. International Paper began a partnership with WWF. The rainforest helps to regulate the worlds water cycle. ? It extends inland to eastern Paraguay and the province of Misiones in northeastern Argentina, and narrowly along the coast into Uruguay. Thomas, William Wayt, and Elizabeth G. Britton. into action and scale Just look around your house how many things are made from wood or other forest products? Restoring areas of healthy forest for these species will protect uniquely rich biodiversity, and preserve an important piece of Brazilians' cultural heritage. Specific trees, plants, and animals bear symbolic meaning in certain cultures and are often represented in art, folklore, and traditional practices. WWF works with local civil society partners to build pipelines of landowners interested in doing restoration on their land; to ensure sufficient nursery capacity and supply of seedlings in support of the growing demand for restoration; and to implement restoration plantings and monitoring of seedlings. Privacy Statement Five hundred years ago, the Atlantic Forest of Brazil covered approximately 330 million acres (about twice the size of Texas), but todaymore than 85% of this forest has been clearedand what remains is highly fragmented. In order to build forest corridors it is necessary to first identify key areas for biodiversity conservation, then re-establish connection among isolated forest patches through creating public and private protected areas and restoring deforested zones. All rights reserved. Despite having only 28% of native vegetation cover remaining,[10] the Atlantic Forest remains extraordinarily lush in biodiversity and endemic species, many of which are threatened with extinction. This reserve is used for research and biodiversity conservation. Non-governmental organizations (NGO) are huge benefactors in Brazil, providing funding as well as professional help to the Atlantic Forest due to the Brazilian Environmental Movement. Or use Google Translate to translate the English site to your language: For thousands of years the Atlantic Forest has been floristically isolated from other South American tropical forests by the surrounding savannas and woodlands, which explains the hotspot's remarkably high plant endemismof the 20,000 vascular plant species occurring there, about 8,000 are endemic. The Atlantic Forest (Portuguese: Mata Atlntica) is a South American forest that extends along the Atlantic coast of Brazil from Rio Grande do Norte state in the northeast to Rio Grande do Sul state in the south and inland as far as Paraguay and the Misiones Province of Argentina, where the region is known as Selva Misionera. From subalpine conifer forests to lush tropical rainforests, forests cover nearly one-third of the earths land surface. The alliance submitted restoration commitments to the Bonn Challenge, an international effort to restore degraded land around the world. Bronx, N.Y.: The New York Botanical Garden Press. In fact, in the 1990s researchers from the New York Botanical Garden counted458 tree species in 2.5 acresmore than double the number of tree species in the entire U.S. eastern seaboard. Human activities, such as deforestation, agriculture, and urbanization, have a direct impact on biodiversity in tropical forests, reducing species diversity and altering the structure, composition and functioning of these ecosystems. In fact, between 1990 and 2006 over a thousand new flowering plants were discovered. This allows for the survival of the greatest possible spectrum of species. Global sites represent either regional branches of The Nature Conservancy or local affiliates of The Nature Conservancy that are separate entities. More than 52% of the tree species and 92% of the amphibians in the Atlantic Forest are found nowhere else in the world. [1], It was the first environment that the Portuguese colonists encountered over 500 years ago, when it was thought to have had an area of 1,000,0001,500,000km2 (390,000580,000sqmi), and stretching an unknown distance inland, making it, back then, the second largest rainforest on the planet, only behind the Amazon rainforest. 1992. Nearly 250 species of amphibians, birds, and mammals have become extinct due to the result of human activity in the past 400 years. Hold spiritual and cultural value. The forest's restoration would benefit cities like So Paulo and Rio by providing "natural infrastructure." Get text updates from The Nature Conservancy: Please enter a valid email address (formatted as name@company.com). Por, Francis Dov. Two trees of great value in the timber industry are today very rare: Brazil-wood (Caesalpinia echinata) and Brazilian rosewood (Dalbergia nigra). As trees and other plants grow, they absorb carbon dioxide and store it in their trunks, roots, branches, and soils. this region. Like the Amazon, the Atlantic Forest is a vital ecosystem teeming with unique plant and animal species. The Atlantic Forest has thus endured the brunt of Brazils population growth and development ever since Europeans first landed in Brazil in 1500. Other global initiatives include the Reducing Emissions from Deforestation and Forest Degradation (REDD+) program, that aims to provide incentives to countries and communities to reduce deforestation and promote sustainable forest management and the Tropical Forest Alliance 2020 (TFA 2020), a public-private partnership that aims to reduce deforestation and promote sustainable land-use practices in tropical forest regions. Answering this question constitutes an important endeavor for the scientific community, policymakers, and organizations leading the planning and implementation of restoration projects. And a rare lightning storm last month provided an enthusiastic source of . This includes nearly 200 bird species found nowhere else, and60% of all of Brazils threatened animal speciescall this forest home. Assessing the role of the soil biota and their impact on ecosystem processes and services in tropical forests. Brazil-wood has been threatened since the early 19th century because of its value for furniture and musical instruments. The Pact for Atlantic Forest Restoration has assembled over 100 businesses, nongovernmental and governmental organizations around the goal of having 15million hectares of the original ecosystem restored by 2050.[36]. Make a symbolic jaguar adoption to help save some of the world's most endangered animals from extinction and support WWF's conservation efforts. Many types of jobs depend on forests and their resources, from loggers and construction workers to trekking guides and forest rangers. If the theory for restoring the Atlantic Forest is solid, so is the practice. Washington, D.C: Joseph Henry Press, 1997. More than 52% of the tree species and 92% of the amphibians in the Atlantic Forest are found nowhere else in the world. 1250 24th Street, N.W. Help WRI turn research The main cause of deforestation is agriculture (poorly planned infrastructure is emerging as a big threat too) and the main cause of forest degradation is illegal logging. There are also a number of threatened parrots, such as the Vulnerable red-tailed Amazon (Amazona brasiliensis) and the Endangered red-browed Amazon (Amazona rhodocorytha). the changes needed to 2009). As such, they act as a natural buffer, protecting coastal communities from the damaging effects of storms and tsunamis. The Atlantic Forest and the Amazon are among the most important tropical forests of the world but have different conservation status. The Atlantic Forest has ecoregions within the following biome categories: seasonal moist and dry broad-leaf tropical forests, tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands, and mangrove forests. Of the more than 300 reptile species occurring in the hotspot, approximately 95 species are endemic. Biological Conservation 34:17-34. ", tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands, Pontifcia Universidade Catlica do Rio Grande do Sul, Tropical and subtropical moist broadleaf forests, Tropical and subtropical dry broadleaf forests, Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and shrublands, Instituto de Tecnologia Intuitiva e Bio-Arquitetura, List of plants of Atlantic Forest vegetation of Brazil, "UMA NOTA SOBRE OS LIMITES TERRITORIAIS DA MATA ATLNTICA", "From hotspot to hopespot: An opportunity for the Brazilian Atlantic Forest", "The erosion of biodiversity and biomass in the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot", "ATLANTIC EPIPHYTES: a data set of vascular and nonvascular epiphyte plants and lichens from the Atlantic Forest", "ATLANTIC MAMMALS: a data set of assemblages of medium and largesized mammals of the Atlantic Forest of South America", "ATLANTIC PRIMATES: a dataset of communities and occurrences of primates in the Atlantic Forests of South America", "ATLANTIC AMPHIBIANS: a data set of amphibian communities from the Atlantic Forests of South America", "Atlantic small-mammal: a dataset of communities of rodents and marsupials of the Atlantic forests of South America", "ATLANTIC-CAMTRAPS: a dataset of medium and large terrestrial mammal communities in the Atlantic Forest of South America", "ATLANTIC BIRDS: a data set of bird species from the Brazilian Atlantic Forest", "Helminths of some tree frogs of the families Hylidae and Phyllomedusidae in an Atlantic rainforest fragment, Brazil", "Thirty Years of Human Demography and Land-Use Change in the Atlantic Forest of Misiones, Argentina: an Evaluation of the Forest Transition Model", Biodiversity Hotspots - Atlantic Forest - Conservation Action, So Paulo Expands Atlantic Forest Protection Coverage, The Nature Conservancy: Atlantic Forest biome, UNESCO World Heritage Site: Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves, https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Atlantic_Forest&oldid=1163186715, Short description is different from Wikidata, Articles containing Portuguese-language text, Wikipedia articles needing page number citations from June 2023, Articles with unsourced statements from June 2023, Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License 4.0, This page was last edited on 3 July 2023, at 12:13. For example, the Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) is a multilateral treaty signed by most countries in the world that aims to promote the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity, including tropical forests. [29], Due to the Atlantic Forest's vast diversity of endemic plants and animals as well as the fragmentation affecting these species, many groups and organizations are working to restore this unique ecosystem. Because life in the forest is so interdependent, it throws off the balance of the entire ecosystem when one part is lost. The next year, HP committed to build on this progress and restore as much as 500 additional hectares. The Atlantic Forest stretches along Brazil's Atlantic coast, from the northern state of Rio Grande do Norte south to Rio Grande do Sul. Though evaporation from water bodies accounts for the vast majority of moisture in the atmosphere, transpiration from plants is still significant. These services are important because they support human well-being, food security, and the maintenance of biodiversity. For the nine Atlantic Forest species, the most important threats are agriculture (nine species), logging and urbanisation (both seven species), fire (five species), and climate change (four species) (BirdLife International, 2021).Some threats are quite specific, such as water abstraction affecting Araripe Manakin Antilophia bokermanni, and invasion of wetlands by non-native plants reducing . The authors estimated that this could result in ecosystems storing 205 billion metric tonnes (226 billion U.S. tons) of carbon, four times the annual greenhouse gas emissions of the world. Working to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and nature. Despite its diminished state, the Atlantic Forest still ranks as a global conservation priority. Below the ground, trees use a network of fungi to share nutrients with each other. Endemism in trees is particularly high, with more than half the species found nowhere else. Because most of the region's forests have been cleared during 500 years of exploitation, many species are now threatened, and at least one is extinct in the wild, the Alagoas curassow (Crax mitu). Another example is the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCC), which is an international treaty signed by nearly all countries in the world that aims to address global warming and reduce emissions of greenhouse gases, many of which are associated with deforestation and land use changes in tropical forests. You may wonder what is the Atlantic Forest Reserve, why is it important? Extreme heat across land and sea has led to disastrous consequences in some regions. This forest is also one of the richest natural areas on the planet, filled with iconic species like jaguars, sloths, tamarins, and toucans. For thousands of years the Atlantic Forest has been floristically isolated from other South American tropical forests by the surrounding savannas and woodlands, which explains the hotspot's remarkably high plant endemismof the 20,000 vascular plant species occurring there, about 8,000 are endemic. New species are being documented in the Atlantic Forest all the time. The primary continuing threats to these fragments include: These stresses not only threaten the Atlantic Forests biological diversity, but they are alsothreats to the Atlantic Forests poorer traditional rural communitieswhose livelihoods are directly linked to the conservation and sustainable use of natural resources. In 2020, a football field-sized area of tropical forest was lost every four seconds. There are important subnational policies in place, such as the Reflorestar program in the state of Espirito Santo and the innovative Payment for Ecosystem Services program in the city of Extrema. Despite the importance of this forest, it is one of the most threatened in the world. There are several reasons. Forests influence the water cycle through a process called transpiration. Some of the Atlantic Forests most charismatic species include thegolden lion tamarin, wooly spider monkey, red-tailed parrot, and maned three-toed sloth. World Wildlife Fund Inc. is a nonprofit, tax-exempt charitable organization (tax ID number 52-1693387) under Section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code. people die as a result of outdoor air pollution. These mother trees will help provide protection for the other species, allowing our restoration areas to transform from planted saplings into thriving forests. Some specific areas for additional research include: Laura Borma (laura.borma@inpe.br,0000-0003-4496-0612), Instituto Nacional de Pesquisas Espaciais, So Jos dos Campos, Brazil. As our forests disappear, it has a devastating ripple effect on people, wildlife, and the planet. The degradation of ecosystems and loss of their services can lead to reduced quality of life and increased poverty, especially for people who depend directly on these services for their livelihoods. 2011; Werneck et al. Temperatures in boreal forests are, on average, below freezing. Oliveira-Filho and Fontes 2000; Marques et al. WRI relies on the generosity of donors like you to turn research into action. Restoring the degraded land with native plants would combat climate change, safeguard exceptional biodiversity and boost Brazil's rural economy. WWF monitors the approximately 300 jaguars that remain there as well as their primary prey and works to reduce the regional threats facing jaguars, including human-jaguar conflict, poaching, and unsustainable livestock production. And that is exactly what new research shows: the Atlantic Forest provides one of the most important opportunities for landscape restoration in the world. Language links are at the top of the page across from the title. Not sure where to find something? Forests are often referred to as natures medicine cabinet. And for good reason. While the Amazon has lost 19% of its original tree cover, the Atlantic Forest has lost more than 80%, beginning when the first Europeans arrived in South America. You can support our work by making a gift today or exploring other ways to give. [11] Approximately 40 percent of its vascular plants and up to 60 percent of its vertebrates are endemic species, meaning they are found nowhere else in the world. In addition to absorbing carbon dioxide, trees remove other harmful pollutants from the air and pump out oxygen. The Atlantic Forest is among the largest blocks of tropical forests of the world and the second largest rainforest in South America (Sobral-Souza and Lima-Ribeiro 2017), once covering more than 1.3 million km 2 (Paglia and Pinto 2010).It stretches from northeastern Brazil to northern Argentina and eastern Paraguay, comprising a variety of climatic, geomorphological, and edaphic conditions that . 6,000 plant species, 263 amphibians and 160 mammals, including 22 primate species, are endemic. On the flip-side, when humans destroy forest habitats it can lead to the spread of zoonotic diseases. CEPF is a joint initiative of lAgence Franaise de Dveloppement, Conservation International, the European Union, the Global Environment Facility, the Government of Japan and the World Bank. The protected areas that constitute the site contain great . The Atlantic Forest harbors a range of biological diversity similar to that of the Amazon. Even the sunlight reflecting off the ocean can give it a bluer tint. Though evaporation from water bodies accounts for the vast majority of moisture in the atmosphere, transpiration from plants is still significant. The Atlantic Forest plays an important role in mitigating climate change. The Atlantic Forest runs along the eastern coast of Brazil, stretching inland into Argentina and Paraguay. The Atlantic Forest region includes forests of several variations: The Atlantic Forest is unusual in that it extends as a true tropical rain forest to latitudes as far as 28S. These analyses inform WWFs restoration agenda and ensure investments are used as efficiently as possible. Editors Note: It is the policy of AGU Publications to invite the authors of articles published in Reviews of Geophysics to write a summary for Eos Editors Vox. [32] These include the Species Protection Program, the Program for Supporting Private Natural Heritage Reserves and the Institutional Strengthening Program. However, their success depends on the effective implementation of these initiatives at the national and local level. Plants: The Atlantic Forest of Brazil is also home to around20,000 species of plants, representing 8% of the Earths plants. Each year, about. WWF is racing against the clock to protect what remains of this once great forest. WWF works to sustain the natural world for the benefit of people and wildlife, collaborating with partners from local to global levels in nearly 100 countries. Not to mention, many families rely on wood fuel to heat their homes. Forests provide many of the resources that we use in our daily lives. Like the Amazon, the Atlantic Forest is a vital ecosystem teeming with unique plant and animal species. The Atlantic Forest stretches from northeast Brazil, south along the Brazilian Atlantic coastline and inland into northeast Argentina and eastern Paraguay. In our paper, we argue that an additional factor makes it difficult to establish the relationships between ES and biodiversity: a poor definition of biodiversity. [13], The Atlantic Forest is one of the best studied tropical ecosystems. Human activities can also have indirect effects; for example, human-induced climate change is changing temperatures and rainfall patterns which in turn affect the ES. WWF and 1986 Panda Symbol are owned by WWF. Development of economic alternatives that are compatible with forest protection is imperative. The destruction of Brazil's Atlantic Forest has created countless isolated forest patches surrounded by pastures, cities or monoculture plantations, with serious consequences for northern . [12] For example, the extent of human disturbances, including habitat destruction, in the Atlantic Forest has led to an extinction crisis. Applying the filters below will filter all articles, data, insights and projects by the topic area you select. 2003. At this pivotal moment, WRI President & CEO Ani Dasgupta will share insights into our predictions for the big stories coming up in 2023, including what actions governments, businesses, institutions and people must take to get the world on the right path. [31] With many key vertebrate seed dispersers going extinct, it is predicted that many regional, fruit-bearing tree species in the Atlantic forest will become extinct due to failure of seedling recruitment and recolonisation. New species continue to be found in this rich forest complex despite its current state. Tropical forests provide a variety of ecosystem services, including: Can you explain a little more about the relationships between biodiversity and ecosystem services in tropical forests? What is the Atlantic Forest Reserve? Additionally, the introduction of non-native species, hunting, and over-exploitation of resources can also have negative impacts on biodiversity and ES. The initiative's short-term goal is having 20 million hectares under restoration by 2020, and 30 million hectares by 2030 (to be reflected in member countries' Nationally Determined Contributions to the Paris Climate Agreement). Pledge to work together to solve the world's greatest environmental problems and protect our forests. [23] A species of endangered three-toed sloth, named the maned sloth (Bradypus torquatus) because of its long hair, is endemic to the Atlantic Forest. However, if forests are destroyed then they can actually worsen climate change by releasing more carbon than they absorb. In Paraguay some 13% of the original forest remains. Tags: business carbon offsets, carbon, carbon offsets, ecosystems, environments, forest, nature, wildlife, KaitlynBra June 7, 2021 Blog, Climate Change, Nature & Wildlife, Sustainable Travel, 2020 | Sustainable Travel International |, From subalpine conifer forests to lush tropical rainforests, forests cover nearly, But as people burn and chop down massive amounts of trees, this forest coverage is rapidly dwindling. Our goal is to see 12 million hectares restored with native vegetation, or under restoration, by 2030 against a 2014 baseline. Forests help to keep people healthy by purifying the air that we breathe. The Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlntica in Portuguese) is a region of tropical and subtropical moist forest, tropical dry forest, tropical savannas, and mangrove forests that extends along the Atlantic Ocean coast of Brazil from Rio Grande do Norte state to Rio Grande do Sul state, and inland as far as Paraguay and northern Argentina.In northeastern Brazil it occupies a thin coastal strip less . Several international agreements aim to do this. Forests play an important role in keeping our rivers, streams, lakes, and oceans healthy. For many rural communities, forests are their neighborhood grocery stores., Forests are an excellent place to forage for wild foods such as berries, mushrooms, leaves, tubers, and nuts; and the wild animals that live in forests are an important source of protein. Often eclipsed by the better-known forests of the Amazon Basin, the Atlantic Forest is an equally important part of Brazil's heritage, Rio's source of clean water, and the planet's biodiversity. Join the movement now! From orangutans swinging in the treetops to ants marching along the forest floor, these complex ecosystems are full of life. In the northeastern part of Brazil it occupies a thin coastal strip not exceeding 40 miles in width, while in the south it extends from the coast to as far as 200 miles inland. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply. You can help safeguard forests to ensure they continue to provide these important benefits by offsetting your carbon footprint. Major Habitat Type: Moist tropical forest. [citation needed] Furthermore, in 1990 researchers re-discovered a small population of the black-faced lion tamarin (Leontopithecus caissara, previously thought to have been extinct. It encompasses some of the largest cities in Brazil, such as So Paulo and Rio, and is home to more than 145 million people. . We may have detected a typo. The Atlantic Rainforest is home to an incredibly array of biodiversity. For example, in the tropics, both humid forests (Amazon rainforest and Atlantic rainforest) as well as the sub-humid forest (Savanna) are highly biodiverse environments but produce distinct ES types. While we all depend on forests in one way or another, it is estimated that about 350 million people around the world live within or near to forests and are highly dependent on them for their livelihoods. Because life in the forest is so interdependent, it throws off the balance of the entire ecosystem when one part is lost. The study mapped an area of 0.9 billion hectares (2.2 billion acres) that could be restored worldwide, equivalent to the size of China. This deforestation continues at an annual rate of 0.5% and up to 2.9% in urban areas. For example, restoring forests can ensure cleaner water, by reducing soil erosion and avoiding sediment pollution in water reservoirs. Beyond the necessities, forests are also a source of fun, excitement, and inspiration. Spending time in forests helps us to unwind, inspires creativity, and leads people to develop a greater appreciation for the environment. To manage or opt-out of receiving cookies, please visit our. Mobile Terms & Conditions Two of the world's largest cities - Rio de Janeiro and Sao Paulo - lie within the Atlantic forests. Just as important are the positive effects this healthy landscape could have for the economy. In Brazil, the Atlantic Forest ecoregion produces 70% of the countrys gross domestic product or GDP. A new species of capuchin monkey, genus, Cassano, C., M. Kierulff, and A. Chiarello. Trees absorb water through their roots which is later released as water vapor from their leaves. Companies, rural producers, researchers and civil society organizations have formed the Pacto para a Restaurao da Mata Atlntica (Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact), of which WRI Brasil is a member. A new report says the key to saving Brazil's Atlantic Forest is recognizing Indigenous territory. Rebuilding these forest corridors allows wildlife to roam more freely, protects valuable water resources, and makes the entire region more resilient to climate impacts. Theres something special about staying in an ecolodge overlooking a lush jungle, walking through a grove of golden aspens, or spotting a sloth up high in the canopy. From hiking to ziplining to mountain biking, forests are a destination for epic adventures. Therefore, preserving and managing ecosystems in a sustainable way is crucial for meeting the needs of current and future generations. As our forests disappear, it has a devastating ripple effect on people, wildlife, and the planet. Seventy percent of Brazils gross domestic product is generated in this region, and it is the source of drinking water for a significant portion of the countrys population. 2011. Two of the worlds largest citiesRio de Janeiro and So Pauloare located in the Atlantic Forest. The erosion of biodiversity and biomass in the Atlantic Forest biodiversity hotspot. Researchers have responded to this scenario, addressing important floristic and phytogeographic features of the Atlantic Forest vegetation, and producing works revealing major implications for biodiversity conservation (e.g.
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