Atlantic forest is a tropical biome, composed of a diversity of plant formations and which is present in much of the Brazilian coast.
The Atlantic Forest is considered one of the most important tropical forests in the world, and the fifth most threatened natural area in the world.
Originally, the Atlantic Forest covered an area equivalent to approximately 1,315,460 km2, covering 17 Brazilian states (Rio Grande do Sul, Santa Catarina, Paraná, São Paulo, Goiás, Mato Grosso do Sul, Rio de Janeiro, Minas Gerais, Espírito Santo, Bahia, Sergipe, Alagoas, Paraíba, Pernambuco, Rio Grande do Norte, Ceará and Piauí).
This biome is located in the most populated regions of Brazil, where, according to the Brazilian Institute of Geography and Statistics, more than 70% of the country's population live.
Learn more about the meaning of biome.
All this “population pressure” caused a large part of the Atlantic Forest to suffer from exploitation throughout Brazil's history.
Currently, only about 22% of its original coverage is preserved.
Even so, it still has one of the greatest biodiversity in the world, being declared a Biosphere Reserve by Unesco and a National Heritage by the Brazilian Federal Constitution.
SOS Atlantic Forest
Entities and non-governmental organizations, such as SOS Mata Atlântica, help research and create awareness campaigns to preserve what is left of the Atlantic Forest and its rich fauna and flora.
THE SOS Atlantic Forest Foundation was created in 1986, with the objective of training professionals with knowledge about this biome.
See also the meaning of biodiversity and Brazilian Biomes.