PROTECTED AREAS

Are there any protected areas?

The Brazilian Atlantic Forest is one of the regions in South America with the highest number of strictly protected areas such as parks, reserves, ecological stations, and private reserves (Tabarelli et al., 2005). 

In the last 40 years alone, more than 600 new protected areas were created (Tabarelli et al., 2005). Even so, the system still is not in good shape for a number of reasons:

1. Protected areas ONLY cover less than 2% of the entire biome! 
2. Strictly protected areas protect ONLY 24% of the original forest landscape
3. Most of these remnants are far too small to guarantee long-term species existence
4. Out of the 104 threatened vertebrate species, 57 have yet to be recorded in any other protected area

Legislation has been passed also in efforts to protect the forest. For example, the Forest Code of 1965 demands that 20% of the area of rural land in the region surrounding the forest is managed as a legal forest reserve and that gallery forest and forest on slopes be areas under permanent protection (Tabarelli et al., 2005).

However, such legislation is not being enforced properly. The amount of deforestation occurring in the Atlantic Forest contradicts such policies.

It is alarming to think that one of the world’s 25 biodiversity hotspots is not being sufficiently protected. 

What is the status of protected areas in the Atlantic Forest?

The status of protected areas in the Atlantic Forest is slowly improving.


Although public interest and involvement in the forest’s well being has increased, many areas are still not sufficiently protected from the increasing demands of the region’s growing human population.

Furthermore, the majority of land available for preservation is privately owned. In response, legislation such as Reservas Particulares do Patrimônio Natural (RPPN) has developed, which allows landowners to designate their part of the forest as protected. The program has been proven to be successful; in 2005 alone, landowners designated 443 RPPNs (Tabarelli et al., 2005).

Another way state governments have incentivized forest preservation is by giving subsidies to municipalities based on the area under government protection in their state.
Recently, environmental legislation has stirred human desire to improve ecological restoration but again not enough to make a big enough impact.

With necessary funding and equipment and strict enforcement of environmental laws, the status of these protected areas can improve.

Ultimately, the people must decide whether or not they find the Brazilian Atlantic Forest to be of importance to them. 

What is likely to happen in the future to that ecosystem?

The Atlantic Forest stretches into multiple different countries such as Brazil, Argentina, and Paraguay and is home to about 70% of Brazil’s 169 million people (Galindo-Leal et al., 2008).


Human interference is the main cause of the Atlantic Forest’s destruction. As the population continues to grow, the demand for charcoal, wood, and other human necessities also continues to grow. Clearing forest for timber, cattle-ranches, and sugar/coffee plantations, only exacerbates the current problems. Furthermore, Agricultural and industrial productions have contaminated the air and water, which consequently has harmed the forest’s biodiversity. 

In spite of all this, the future of the Atlantic Forest cannot be easily determined. It may turn out good or bad depending on how seriously society takes these issues.

Current legislation seeks to restrict the clearing of the forest’s remaining areas that are used for plantations. Additionally, restoration programs such as the Atlantic Forest Restoration Pact continue to protect the forest’s remaining fragments.

The key to preserving these protected areas is to stimulate people’s interest and involvement, so that they become aware of the effects deforestation and mismanagement of resources on the environment.

Ultimately, new technological improvements, accessibility of conservation tools, and availability of funding, set a bright future for the Atlantic Forest’s remaining areas.