Much of what we thought was true about Amazon rainforests has turned out to be not quite so. As perceptions sharpen, the value of the Amazon ecosystem is becoming more fully appreciated, as are the consequences of converting this forest to other uses. Even though...

Undoubtedly the increase in scientific knowledge and the use of techniques such as remote sensing fostered a significant evolution of Brazilian phytogeography. Today there is a much better knowledge of the distinct physiognomies present in our territory. In some...

Cebus kaapori is a new species of untufted capuchin monkey recently described by Queiroz (1992). It is similar to Cebus olivaceus, and data from molecular studies indicate that this new form is differentiated from C. olivaceus at no more than the subspecific level...

The incidence and importance of fire in the Amazon have increased substantially during the past decade, but the effects of this disturbance force are still poorly understood. The forest fire dynamics in two regions of the eastern Amazon were studied. Accidental...

Amazonian deforestation rates are used to determine human effects on the global carbon cycle and to measure Brazil's progress in curbing forest impoverishment. But this widely used measure of tropical land use tells only part of the story. Here we present field surveys of wood mills and forest burning across Brazilian Amazonia which show that logging crews severely damage 10,000 to 15,000 km2 yr−1 of forest that are not included in deforestation mapping programmes.