Brazil: Atlantic Forest regeneration in nine states

In the last 30 years, the forest's deforestation rate dropped 83%

Published on 17/01/2017 - 16:54 By Flávia Albuquerque Silva reports from Agência Brasil - São Paulo

Mata Atlântica

Atlantic ForestArquivo/Agência Brasil 

Between 1985 and 2015, 219,735 hectares (2,197 km2) of the Atlantic Forest remnants went through a process of regeneration in nine of the 17 Brazilian states that have the forest.

The area is approximately equivalent to the size of São Paulo city, according to data released today (Jan. 17) by the SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation and the Brazilian Institute for Space Research (INPE).

According to the Atlas of the Atlantic Forest Remains, which monitors the spatial distribution of the forest, the state of Paraná, one of the country's largest grain producers, reached the largest areas of regeneration in the period assessed, totaling 75,612 hectares; followed by Minas Gerais (59,850 hectares), Santa Catarina (24,964 hectares), São Paulo (23,021 hectares) and Mato Grosso do Sul (19,117 hectares).

"The survey mainly analyzes the regeneration of forest formations in early stages of native plant growth, or of areas previously used for pasture, which are now in an advanced stage of regeneration. This process had both natural and induced causes, when native tree seedlings were planted," said SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation.

According to the entity, in the last 30 years, deforestation dropped 83% in the forest, with seven of the 17 states where there is Atlantic Forest already reaching zero deforestation. "Now the challenge is to recover and restore the native forests we have destroyed," said the foundation's Executive Director Marcia Hirota.

The researcher and technical coordinator of the INPE survey, Flávio Jorge Ponzoni, pointed out that during the assessment of areas replanted by the SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation over the past few years, they found other sites going through a regeneration process. "During the assessment, other areas occupied by forest communities in different stages of regeneration were found. These areas should be mapped and released in future surveys."


Translated by Amarílis Anchieta


Fonte: Brazil: Atlantic Forest regeneration in nine states

Edition: Augusto Queiroz / Nira Foster

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