Why Brazil needs its Legal Reserves

Perspectives in Ecology and Conservation, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 17(3), P. 91 - 103

Published: July 1, 2019

Brazil's environmental legislation obliges private properties to retain a fixed proportion of their total area with native vegetation, the so-called "Legal Reserves". Those areas represent practically one third country's vegetation and are well known for role in biodiversity protection provisioning wide range ecosystem services landowners society. Despite relevance, this instrument has been criticized by part agribusiness sector its representatives Brazilian Congress. The Legal Reserve requirement is said be too restrictive impede full expansion agricultural activities, thus detrimental development country. Here, we critically analyze arguments employed justification recently proposed bill that aims completely extinguish Reserves. We demonstrate used mostly unsupported data, evidence or theory, besides being based on illogical reasoning. Further, synthesize principal benefits Reserves, including health economic benefits, emphasize importance these reserves water, energy, food, climate securities, addition primary function assisting maintenance landscapes. also highlight Reserves key-component effective less expensive nature-based solutions, should considered as assets Brazil rather than liabilities. Based available sound scientific agreement strongly oppose any attempt weaken

Language: Английский

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Thresholds of freshwater biodiversity in response to riparian vegetation loss in the Neotropical region

Journal of Applied Ecology, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 57(7), P. 1391 - 1402

Published: May 9, 2020

Abstract Protecting riparian vegetation around streams is vital in reducing the detrimental effects of environmental change on freshwater ecosystems and maintaining aquatic biodiversity. Thus, identifying ecological thresholds useful for defining regulatory limits guiding management zones towards conservation biota. Using nationwide data fish invertebrates occurring small Brazilian streams, we estimated native loss which there are abrupt changes occurrence abundance bioindicators tested whether congruent responses among different biomes, biological groups buffer sizes. Mean cover varied widely sizes groups: ranging from 0.5% to 77.4% fish, 2.9% 37.0% 3.8% 43.2% a subset invertebrates. Confidence intervals were wide, but minimum values these lower smaller buffers (50 100 m) than larger ones (200 500 m), indicating that land use should be kept away streams. Also, occurred at percentage buffers, critically invertebrates: only 6.5% within 50‐m enough cross Synthesis applications . The high variability biodiversity suggests caution single width actions or policy definitions nationwide. most sensitive can used as early warning signals In practice, least wide reserves each side would more effective protect Brazil. However, incentives strategies even wider (~100 also taking into consideration regional context will promote greater benefit. This information set goals create complementary mechanisms policies those currently required by federal law.

Language: Английский

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Hidden destruction of older forests threatens Brazil’s Atlantic Forest and challenges restoration programs

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2021, Volume and Issue: 7(4)

Published: Jan. 20, 2021

Understanding the dynamics of native forest loss and gain is critical for biodiversity conservation ecosystem services, especially in regions experiencing intense transformations. We quantified cover on an annual basis from 1990 to 2017 Brazil’s Atlantic Forest. Despite relative stability during this period (~28 Mha), ongoing older forests, mostly flatter terrains, have been hidden by increasing younger cover, marginal lands mechanized agriculture. Changes its spatial distribution increased isolation 36.4% landscapes. The clearance forests associated with recut 27% has resulted a progressive rejuvenation cover. highlight need include spatiotemporal into restoration programs better estimate their expected benefits unexpected problems.

Language: Английский

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Ecological restoration in Brazilian biomes: Identifying advances and gaps

Forest Ecology and Management, Journal Year: 2019, Volume and Issue: 458, P. 117802 - 117802

Published: Dec. 15, 2019

Language: Английский

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Comparative performance of convolutional neural network, weighted and conventional support vector machine and random forest for classifying tree species using hyperspectral and photogrammetric data

GIScience & Remote Sensing, Journal Year: 2020, Volume and Issue: 57(3), P. 369 - 394

Published: Jan. 12, 2020

The classification of tree species can significantly benefit from high spatial and spectral information acquired by unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) associated with advanced methods. This study investigated the following topics concerning 16 in two subtropical forest fragments Southern Brazil: i) potential integration UAV-borne hyperspectral images 3D derived their photogrammetric point cloud (PPC); ii) performance machine learning methods (support vector – SVM random RF) when employing different datasets at a pixel individual crown (ITC) levels; iii) for dealing imbalanced sample set problem: new weighted (wSVM) approach, which attributes weights to each class, deep classifier (convolutional neural network CNN), previous step balance set; finally, iv) this last as compared above mentioned Results showed that inclusion PPC features data provided great accuracy increase results conventional were applied, between 13 17% depending on area characteristics. When using canopy height model (CHM), majority vote (MV) rule, SVM, wSVM RF classifiers reached accuracies similar CNN, outperformed these both areas considering pixel-based classifications (overall 84.4% Area 1, 74.95% 2). CNN was 22% 26% more accurate than only bands employed. slight not some lesser represented classes, but also major classes 2. While are faster, they demonstrated be less stable changes datasets, prior segmentation hand-engineered reach those attained CNN. To date, CNNs have been barely explored species, CNN-based literature dealt specifically focusing tropical environments. paper thus presents innovative strategies classifying refined legend level, integrating 2D relying approaches.

Language: Английский

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Global importance of Indigenous Peoples, their lands, and knowledge systems for saving the world’s primates from extinction

Science Advances, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 8(32)

Published: Aug. 10, 2022

Primates, represented by 521 species, are distributed across 91 countries primarily in the Neotropic, Afrotropic, and Indo-Malayan realms. Primates inhabit a wide range of habitats play critical roles sustaining healthy ecosystems that benefit human nonhuman communities. Approximately 68% primate species threatened with extinction because global pressures to convert their for agricultural production extraction natural resources. Here, we review scientific literature conduct spatial analysis assess significance Indigenous Peoples’ lands safeguarding biodiversity. We found account 30% range, 71% these lands. As on increases, less likely be classified as or have declining populations. Safeguarding lands, languages, cultures represents our greatest chance prevent world’s primates.

Language: Английский

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Landscape dynamics and diversification of the megadiverse South American freshwater fish fauna

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Journal Year: 2023, Volume and Issue: 120(2)

Published: Jan. 3, 2023

Landscape dynamics are widely thought to govern the tempo and mode of continental radiations, yet effects river network rearrangements on dispersal lineage diversification remain poorly understood. We integrated an unprecedented occurrence dataset 4,967 species with a newly compiled, time-calibrated phylogeny South American freshwater fishes—the most species-rich vertebrate fauna Earth—to track evolutionary processes associated hydrogeographic events over 100 Ma. Net was heterogeneous through time, across space, among clades. Five abrupt shifts in net rates occurred during Paleogene Miocene (between 30 7 Ma) association major landscape evolution events. accelerated from Recent (c. 20 0 Ma), Western Amazonia having highest situ diversification, which led it being important source dispersing other regions. All regional biotic interchanges were documented formation biogeographic corridors, including Early 23 16 uplift Serra do Mar da Mantiqueira Late 10 Northern Andes modern transcontinental Amazon River. The combination high extensive interchange yielded its extraordinary contemporary richness phylogenetic endemism. Our results support hypothesis that dynamics, shaped history drainage basin connections, strongly affected assembly basin-wide fish faunas.

Language: Английский

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Cerrado deforestation threatens regional climate and water availability for agriculture and ecosystems

Global Change Biology, Journal Year: 2022, Volume and Issue: 28(22), P. 6807 - 6822

Published: Sept. 8, 2022

The Brazilian Cerrado is one of the most biodiverse savannas in world, yet 46% its original cover has been cleared to make way for crops and pastures. These extensive land-use transitions (LUTs) are expected influence regional climate by reducing evapotranspiration (ET), increasing land surface temperature (LST), ultimately precipitation. Here, we quantify impacts LUTs on ET LST combining MODIS satellite data with annual use maps from 2006 2019. We performed regression analyses effects six common across entire gradient landscapes. Results indicate that clearing forests cropland or pasture increased average ~3.5°C reduced mean 44% 39%, respectively. Transitions woody 1.9°C 27% 21%, Converting native grasslands 0.9 0.6°C, Conversely, grassland-to-pasture 15%. To date, changes have caused a 10% reduction water recycled atmosphere annually 0.9°C increase biome, compared historic baseline under vegetation. Global atmospheric greenhouse gas concentrations will only exacerbate these effects. Considering potential future scenarios, found abandoning deforestation control policies allowing legal continue (at least 28.4 Mha) would further reduce yearly (by -9% -3%, respectively) +0.7 +0.3°C, 2050. In contrast, encouraging zero restoration 5.2 Mha illegally deforested areas partially offset warming drying change.O brasileiro é uma das savanas mais biodiversas do mundo. Apesar disso, da sua cobertura foi desmatada para dar lugar cultivos agrícolas e pastos. Estas extensas transições de uso solo (LUT) têm o potencial influenciar clima regional, reduzindo evapotranspiração aumentando temperatura superfície terrestre (LST) por fim precipitação. O objetivo deste estudo quantificar os impactos sobre no Cerrado, combinando dados satélite com mapas anuais 2006-2019. Foram realizadas análises regressão efeitos seis usuais LST, ao longo todo gradiente paisagens Cerrado. Os resultados indicaram que retirada florestas à agricultura ou pastagem aumentou média em reduziu anual respectivamente. Transições formações savânicas aumentaram reduziram A conversão campos nativos Em contrapartida, campestres nativas pastagens Até momento, as mudanças causaram redução água reciclada atmosfera anualmente aumento bioma, comparação linha base histórica sob vegetação nativa. As climáticas globais decorrentes concentrações atmosféricas gases efeito estufa irão exacerbar esses efeitos. Considerando potenciais cenários futuros, observou-se abandono políticas controle desmatamento avanço (ao menos reduziriam (em −9% −3%, respectivamente) aumentariam +0.3ºC, até Por outro lado, promovam restauração dos áreas ilegalmente desmatadas compensariam parte aquecimento seca causados alterações solo.

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The Atlantic Forest of South America: Spatiotemporal dynamics of the vegetation and implications for conservation

Biological Conservation, Journal Year: 2024, Volume and Issue: 291, P. 110499 - 110499

Published: Feb. 28, 2024

Language: Английский

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Payment for ecosystem services programs in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest: Effective but not enough

Land Use Policy, Journal Year: 2018, Volume and Issue: 82, P. 283 - 291

Published: Dec. 19, 2018

Language: Английский

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