Brazilian Ecosystems Trivia

 

Question:   Which Brazilian ecosystem is in the most danger of disappearing?

 

The Pantanal?   . . .

 

Not the Pantanal; while not entirely free of anthropogenic disturbance, plans for a proposed engineered waterway that had severely threatened this ecosystem have been stalled.

The Atlantic Forest? . . .

 

 

Not the Atlantic Forest; while 95 percent of this forest has been destroyed, intact forest remains along the inaccessibly steep coastal mountain chain.

The Amazon Rainforest? . . .

 

 

Not the Amazon Rainforest; many large intact blocks of this forest still remain.

           The Marine Systems? . . .

 

 

 

 

  Not the marine systems associated with Brazil’s coast; however they are under a variety of environmental threats.

The Cerrado? . . .

 

YES!   The Cerrado, Brazil’s tropical savanna, is the most endangered ecosystem.
Covering roughly 22 percent of Brazil’s territory, this ecosystem is the headwater source for two important watersheds, and it is home to a great many species that are not found anywhere else on earth. Roughly 50 percent of the Cerrado is currently under human use, and the remaining area is being rapidly converted to soy farming. Not the most charismatic of Brazilian landscapes, it’s destruction receives very little attention.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Students on AEA’s Brazilian Ecosystems program conduct field studies in each of these ecosystems. Read more about the program sites on our Locations page.