Deforestation rose 66% in 2021 in Brazil’s Atlantic rainforest, fueling fears of rampant destruction of the Amazon rainforest additional north.
The Mata Atlântica, which stretches alongside the east coast of Brazil, misplaced 21,642 ha of forest cowl from November 2020 to October 2021, two-thirds greater than within the earlier 12 months. The info was revealed in a 2022 report based mostly on satellite tv for pc monitoring.
Inexperienced-crowned Plovercrest is one in every of greater than 200 hen species endemic to the Atlantic Rainforest (Dario Sanches).
Just like the Amazon, the lesser-known Atlantic Forest is a important buffer towards local weather change and a key ecosystem. Though solely 28% of the native cowl stays, it’s terribly wealthy in biodiversity and endemic species. These embrace greater than 200 hen species, reminiscent of Gray-winged Cotinga, Three-toed Jacamar, Cherry-throated Tanager, Inexperienced-crowned Plovercrest, and Buff-throated Purpletuft.
Deforestation in Brazil elevated sharply underneath former President Jair Bolsonaro – because the far-right president took workplace in 2019, common annual deforestation within the Brazilian Amazon has elevated by 75% in comparison with the earlier decade. Nonetheless, there may be hope that the election of recent President Lula, who defeated Bolsonaro in nationwide elections in late 2022, might sluggish this development.
