BRAZIL
BIOSPHERE RESERVE OF THE ATLANTIC FOREST.
Year of creation
1991
The Atlantic Rainforest is one of the most beautiful yet most threatened tropical forests on the planet. The Biosphere Reserve of the Atlantic Forest (BRAF) was the first Brazilian unit to be part of UNESCO's World Network of Biosphere Reserves, established through 7 successive phases between 1991 and 2019. It is the largest Biosphere Reserve on the planet, with 89,687,000 ha, of which 9,000,000 ha are core zones, 38,508,000 ha are buffer zones, and 41,400,000 ha are transition zones, of which approximately 73,238,000 ha are terrestrial and 16,449,000 ha maritime.
The BRAF promotes knowledge, conservation, restoration, and sustainable management of the territory through its Programs on Sustainable Tourism, Protected Areas, Capacity Building, the Atlantic Forest Market, Environmental Assets, International Cooperation, Environmental Communication and Education, Protection of Marine Areas and Public Policies. It is supported by a participatory and decentralized Management System (UGD RBMA- ITAIPU), which includes national and regional bodies, as well as a Network of Research Outposts and a very active Youth Network.
Over 145 million Brazilians live in the Atlantic Forest biome, mostly in cities, or the surrounding industrial, agricultural and touristic centres, representing 72% of country's GDP, with great social and cultural diversity. Nearly 40 million people live in the BRAF, especially in the transition zone.
The Atlantic Forest is a vast mosaic of woodland with several associate ecosystems such as mangroves, dunes, and high-altitude grassland vegetation. In addition to the 17 Brazilian states, this biome extends to Argentina and Paraguay.
In Brazil, the Atlantic Forest has been reduced to approximately 12% of its original size. Even so, this biome still holds record levels of biodiversity, with some areas recording around 450 tree species per hectare, including more than 10,000 identified plants. Its fauna, one of the most diverse in the world, includes 70% of the endangered species in Brazil.
Extending over 6,000 km along the Brazilian coast, it includes both sea level and high-altitude areas of up to 2,800m. Around 66% of this biome is part of the Biosphere Reserve of the Atlantic Forest.
Contacts
secretaria@rbma.org.br
presidencia@rbma.org.br
Website
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