Facts About The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves For You
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The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves are a stunning natural wonder that should be at the top of your travel bucket list!
This UNESCO World Heritage Site features several reserves that offer visitors a variety of activities, like camping, hiking, fishing, and bird-watching. The forest reserves are home to an incredible diversity of flora and fauna, including over 2,000 species of plants, 80 species of birds, and a 100 species of mammals.
The diversity for which the Atlantic Forest is renowned is ensured by its wide habitat range, which spans from mountain summits to huge areas of isolated beaches. Read on to learn more about the incredible Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves.
Geography
The Atlantic Forest is divided into several reserves that form the Discovery Coast Atlantic Forest Reserves in northeastern Brazil, and the Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves in Argentina and Uruguay.
The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves are located towards the southern tip of Brazil, near the borders of Argentina and Uruguay, and cover an area that is around 200 mi (322 km) long and 50 mi (80 km) wide. The 25 protected areas fall in the São Paulo and Paraná states in Brazil.
The preserved forests are a part of the long mountain range of the Serra do Mar domain, stretching across the neighboring coastal areas, including the Iguape-Cananéia-Paranaguá estuary complex.
These reserves are not only the best-preserved parts of the Atlantic Forest but are also among the most highly-threatened biomes across the globe. The total area of these reserves is around 1,156,930 ac (468,193 ha).
Apart from its biological wealth, the site is visually appealing, surrounded by different geological features like mountains, seas, estuaries, numerous waterfalls, deep valleys, wild rivers, and islands. It is also the place where karst formations can be seen.
Biodiversity & Ecology
The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves showcase the evolutionary history of a large number of plant and animal species endemic to the region.
The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves house 264 species of mammals, 456 species of amphibians, 94 bird species, 311 species of reptiles, and 350 species of freshwater fish. Some of the fauna found in this region include the giant otter, the oncilla, the ocelot, the bush dog, the woolly spider monkey, and the blackfaced lion tamarin.
This region also has an astonishing range of plant life, which serves as a wonderful habitat for several animal species. There are around 20,000 plant species (making up 8% of the world), 8,000 of which are endemic to the region.
Since the Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves are home to a high number of species threatened with extinction, they have lately received the highest conservation priority.
The area not only showcases biological wealth but also has several protected areas in the form of wildlife zones national parks and state parks.
The most notable among them are the Serra dos Orgãos National Park, the Serra do Mar State Park, the Ilhabela State Park, the Intervales State Park, the Carlos Botelho State Park, and the Parque Estadual do Rio Doce.
Conservation
The Atlantic Forest is considered a biodiversity hotspot with a high percentage of endemic species. However, these forests are being destroyed at a rapid rate by human activities like logging, agriculture, mining, and road construction.
The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves are one of the world's most threatened biomes, and the region only has about 13% of its original area left. The greatest threats to the forest are habitat fragmentation caused by road building, power lines, and urbanization.
Since the region is home to a large number of endemic species, many initiatives have been taken for biodiversity conservation. State parks and ecological stations have been established in many locations.
However, it is its natural surroundings of mountains and wild rivers that limit access and aid in the preservation of the region. The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves are not much affected by the activities of indigenous tribes and other communities.
World Heritage Site
The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves were inscribed in UNESCO's List of World Heritage Sites in 1999.
Three criteria were used to designate the territory as a World Heritage Site. First, it is one of the largest continuous tracts of Brazilian Atlantic Forest linked to coastal ecosystems.
Second, the Atlantic Forest preserves a diverse biome, including a plethora of indigenous species. In fact, 39% of mammals, 85% of primates, and 70% of tree species found in the region are endemic.
Finally, the marine biodiversity, flora, and wildlife found in this region are also extremely diverse, with some places boasting over 450 tree species per 2.47 ac (1 ha). Over 120 species of mammals live in these reserves, possibly the highest number in Brazil.
Other Miscellaneous Facts
Read some other facts about the Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves below.
The reason why the Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves have such rich biodiversity is because of their location. These reserves lie at the southern tip of Brazil and at the border of Argentina and Uruguay. This is the area where two major ecosystems meet: the Amazon Rainforest ecosystem to the north and the Atlantic Forest ecosystem to the south.
While the Amazon Rainforest is recognized for its lush tropical rainforests, the Atlantic Forest is noted for its subtropical woodlands.
With traditional rural communities accounting for one-third of the entire population and relying on subsistence agriculture, exploitation of natural resources, cattle rearing, and fishing, this region is among the poorest areas in both states.
The region is home to many karst caves in the country.
The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves feature the earliest colonial traces in Brazil and are close to two main cities, Curitiba and São Paulo.
The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves feature the Casa de Pedra Cave, which boasts the world's largest portico, and the Santana Cave, which has found a place among the most ornately painted caves around the globe.
FAQs
What are the Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves known for?
The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves are home to an incredible diversity of plant and animal life. They are also known for their beautiful landscape, including mountains, rivers, lagoons, caves, and so on.
Where are the Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves located?
The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves are located at the southern tip of Brazil and at the border with Argentina and Uruguay.
What is the significance of the Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves?
The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves play a crucial role in the protection and preservation of the Atlantic Forest. The reserves are one of the last remaining areas of the forest and are vital to the survival of many species.
When and why were the Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves declared as a World Heritage Site?
The Atlantic Forest South-East Reserves were included in the List of World Heritage Sites in 1999. The declaration was made in recognition of the reserves' importance for biodiversity and evolutionary history.
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Sources
http://world-heritage-datasheets.unep-wcmc.org/datasheet/output/site/atlantic-forest-south-east-reserves/
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlantic_Forest#Geography
https://whc.unesco.org/en/list/893/
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Bachelor of Business Administration, Master of Science specializing in Management
Akshita RanaBachelor of Business Administration, Master of Science specializing in Management
With a Master's in Management from the University of Manchester and a degree in Business Management from St. Xavier's, Jaipur, India, Akshita has worked as a content writer in the education sector. She previously collaborated with a school and an education company to improve their content, showcasing her skills in writing and education. Akshita is multilingual and enjoys photography, poetry, and art in her free time, which allows her to bring a creative touch to her work as a writer at Kidadl.
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