The Atlantic Forest is considered the second most threatened
ecosystem in the world today. Originally, it covered an area of
over 1.3 million km2, spread across 17 Brazilian states, and occupied
nearly 15% of the national territory, including the Serra da
Mantiqueira. Today, the remaining area corresponds to less than 8%
of the original. The “Atlas of the Evolution of the Remaining
Forests and Ecosystems of the Atlantic Forest, 1990-1995” points
out a deforestation rate of 500,000 hectares in that period.
The Atlantic Forest has a large degree of, as well as the largest
diversity of tree species per hectare in the world. It is also the
natural habitat for 10.000 plant species (almost half being
exclusives to Brazil), 131 species of mammals (50 of them endemic), 620
bird species and 260 species of amphibians. The vast majority of
the Brazilian species of plants and animals threatened with extinction
in Brazil are represented in this biome(and) Of the seven
Brazilian species considered extincted in the last few years, all of
them were distributed in the Mata Atlântica. Moreover, the
water sources within the Mata Atlântica are the guarantee of
drinkable water for more than 100 million people, or 60% of
the Brazilian population.
For more information: http://www.sosmatatlantica.org.br
