Hidden destruction of older forests threatens Brazil’s Atlantic Forest and challenges restoration programs

20 de janeiro de 2021

jan 20, 2021

Marcos R. Rosa, Pedro H. S. Brancalion, Renato Crouzeilles, Leandro R. Tambosi, Pedro R. Piffer, Felipe E. B. Lenti, Márcia Hirota, Edson Santiami, Jean Paul Metzger

Understanding the dynamics of native forest loss and gain is critical for biodiversity conservation and ecosystem services, especially in regions experiencing intense forest transformations. We quantified native forest cover dynamics on an annual basis from 1990 to 2017 in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Despite the relative stability of native forest cover during this period (~28 Mha), the ongoing loss of older native forests, mostly on flatter terrains, have been hidden by the increasing gain of younger native forest cover, mostly on marginal lands for mechanized agriculture. Changes in native forest cover and its spatial distribution increased forest isolation in 36.4% of the landscapes. The clearance of older forests associated with the recut of 27% of younger forests has resulted in a progressive rejuvenation of the native forest cover. We highlight the need to include native forest spatiotemporal dynamics into restoration programs to better estimate their expected benefits and unexpected problems.

Baixar (sujeito à disponibilidade)

Download (subject to availability)

ODS 15

Este projeto está alinhado aos Objetivos de Desenvolvimento Sustentável (ODS).

Saiba mais em brasil.un.org/pt-br/sdgs.

Veja também

See also

Assentamentos Sustentáveis na Amazônia: o desafio da produção familiar em uma economia de baixo carbono

Assentamentos Sustentáveis na Amazônia: o desafio da produção familiar em uma economia de baixo carbono

A iniciativa traz um arcabouço de referências visando contribuir para a promoção de territórios rurais sustentáveis na Amazônia. Por meio de investimentos e parcerias coordenadas, a iniciativa permitiu o alcance de resultados nas dimensões ambiental, social e econômica. Neste sentido, o programa pode ser considerado um caso de Big Push para a Sustentabilidade da agricultura familiar da Amazônia.

Caderno de boas práticas de ATER

Caderno de boas práticas de ATER

Essa primeira edição reúne uma amostra representativa das Boas Práticas que os serviços de assistência técnica e extensão rural desenvolvem em todo o país para a diversidade da agricultura familiar orientadas pela Política Nacional de Assistência Técnica e Extensão...

Effects of partial throughfall exclusion on the phenology of Coussarea racemosa (Rubiaceae) in an east-central Amazon rainforest

Effects of partial throughfall exclusion on the phenology of Coussarea racemosa (Rubiaceae) in an east-central Amazon rainforest

Severe droughts may alter the reproductive phenology of tropical tree species, but our understanding of these effects has been hampered by confounded variation in drought, light and other factors during natural drought events. We used a large-scale experimental reduction of throughfall in an easterncentral Amazon forest to study the phenological response to drought of an abundant subcanopy tree, Coussarea racemosa. We hypothesized that drought would alter the production and the timing of reproduction, as well as the number of viable fruits.