Atlantic Forest

1500 CE - 2023 CE

The Atlantic Forest is an ancient biome that once stretched along the eastern coast of Brazil, encompassing parts of Paraguay and Argentina, known for devastating deforestation with 85% of its original forest covered cleared. The Atlantic Forest is home to 5% of the world’s vertebrate species, sheltering an astonishing array of endemic species, including the iconic golden lion tamarin, the muriqui monkey, and the toucan. Towering hardwood trees, such as the Brazilian rosewood and the iconic Brazil nut tree, canopy orchids, bromeliads, and ferns below. Diverse topographical features, including steep hills, cascading waterfalls, and meandering rivers, contribute to the unique microclimates that foster the growth of this richly diverse ecosystem. However, rampant deforestation, urbanization, and agricultural expansion have taken a toll on this biome, with only 10% of the original forest still intact. Conservation initiatives, reforestation projects, and the establishment of protected areas serve as beacons of hope, striving to preserve this important forest ecosystem. Despite these conservation efforts, less than 2% of this forest biome is under protected status.

Most Pressing Issues

Deforestation

While the Atlantic Forest once occupied 330 million acres, an area larger than the state of Texas, over 85% of the original forest has been cleared for cattle ranching, agricultural clearing for sugar cane and coffee, timber logging, and urban development. Forest clearing has led to ecosystem degradation and fragmentation, disrupting ecological corridors for the forest’s threatened species. Additionally, deforestation has weakened the forest’s capacity to sequester carbon, exacerbating the impacts of climate change on the region.

Climate change

Climate change Climate change is compounding the challenges faced by the Atlantic Forest, leading to increased instances of extreme weather events, altered rainfall patterns, and rising temperatures. These environmental changes have led many plant species within the forest to move location to cooler areas, which may lead to concerning ripple effects across the ecosystem

Invasive species

Invasive species in the Atlantic Forest, such as the common carp and the European wild boar, pose a significant threat to the native biodiversity, outcompeting and displacing indigenous plant and animal species. The introduction of these non-native species has led to a loss of habitat quality and reduced food availability for native species.

How You Can Help

Trinational Atlantic Forest Pact

“With a shared goal of restoring 15 million hectares by 2050, the Trinational Atlantic Forest Pact is a transboundary coalition that brings together over 300 organizations to restore the Atlantic Forest. The coalition is led by the Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact and the Trinational Alliance for the Atlantic Forest Restoration, which has organizations from Argentina, Brazil, and Paraguay.”

SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation

SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation “works to promote public policies for the conservation of the Atlantic Forest through biome monitoring, production of studies, demonstration projects, dialogue with public and private sectors, improvement of environmental legislation, communication and engagement of society.”

Instituto de Pesquisas Ecológicas

“IPÊ is an institution dedicated to the conservation of biodiversity on a scientific basis. It is active in research, professional training, environmental education, and income generation programs and sustainable businesses that increase the socio-environmental responsibility of communities, entrepreneurs, and opinion makers.”

Rainforest Trust

“Rainforest Trust saves endangered wildlife and protects our planet by creating rainforest reserves through partnerships, community engagement and donor support . . . Rainforest Trust identifies critical sites that provide a permanent refuge for endangered species, but that face immediate and direct threats typically from loggers, miners or ranchers.”

Sources:

“The Atlantic Forest,” The Nature Conservancy.

“Atlantic Forest,” World Wildlife Fund.

Jeremy Hanced and Rhett A. Butler, “Brazil's Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica),” Mongabay.

“Analysis of 13,000 plant species in the Atlantic Forest shows dramatic effects of climate change,” Edge Hill University, April 20, 2023.

Oliver Wilson, “Brazil’s Atlantic Forest will change more in the next 50 years than at any time since the last ice age,” The Conversation, July 28, 2021.

“Atlantic Forest declared UN World Restoration Flagship,” World Wildlife Fund, December 14, 2022.

“A Fundação SOS Mata Atlântica,” SOS Mata Atlântica.

“Our Mission,” Rainforest Trust.

“Mission and Vision,” IPÊ.

“Brazilian Atlantic Forest lato sensu: the most ancient Brazilian forest, and a biodiversity hotspot, is highly threatened by climate change,” Brazilian Journal of Biology, January 8, 2010.