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Between 2010 and 2020, the Atlantic Forest lost 186 thousand hectares of native vegetation, with Minas Gerais and Bahia accounting for 60% of the destruction – Impacts on climate, biodiversity and water supply are devastating!
The Atlantic Forest continues to shrink at a worrying rate. A study published in the scientific journal Nature Sustainability revealed that, between 2010 and 2020, more than 186 thousand hectares of native forest disappeared – the equivalent of almost 200 thousand football fields. This means that, every day, huge areas of this essential biome are converted into pastures, plantations or subdivisions.
The data was collected by scientists from SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation, from National Institute for Space Research (Inpe) and University of São Paulo (USP). The search identified more than 14 thousand areas deforested over a decade, many of them on private properties and with clear signs of illegal deforestation.
The alarming impact of deforestation in the Atlantic Forest
Deforestation of the Atlantic Forest is not an isolated phenomenon, but rather an ongoing process that intensifies every year. The survey indicates that destruction occurs in all 17 states that have areas of the biome, but the problem is more serious in Minas Gerais and Bahia, which accounted for 60% of the total loss. These two states were responsible for half of the mature forest area deforested in the period analyzed.
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Other states are also suffering from the advance of environmental degradation. Paraná and Santa Catarina appear right behind, representing 12% and 4% of vegetation loss, respectively. As a result, the landscape of the Atlantic Forest is changing rapidly, putting entire ecosystems at risk.
Why is the Atlantic Forest disappearing?
The conversion of forest to other uses is the main reason for this deforestation. Among those responsible for the devastation of the biome, the following stand out:
Agricultural and forestry expansion
- A livestock and forestry (planting trees for timber and cellulose extraction) are the big villains in Bahia and Minas Gerais. In the first, 36% of land deforested were converted into pastures, while in the second, 33% of the forest gave way to eucalyptus plantations.
Temporary agriculture and urbanization
- In Southern Brazil, deforestation follows a different logic: 41% of the devastated areas were used for temporary agriculture, harming forest regeneration.
- Disorderly urbanization also threatens the Atlantic Forest, with cities growing over areas that should be protected.
The consequences of destruction
Deforestation is not just an environmental problem, but a direct risk to human life. The destruction of the Atlantic Forest has profound impacts on biodiversity, climate and water security.
Loss of biodiversity
This biome is one of the richest in diversity in the world, home to thousands of endemic species, that is, they do not exist anywhere else. With deforestation, many of these species run risk of extinction, which affects the ecological balance of the region.
Impacts on climate and water supply
The Atlantic Forest plays an essential role na climate regulation and water regime. With the destruction of forests:
- The water supply is reduced, damaging rivers and reservoirs;
- the risk of droughts and floods increase, putting millions of people in danger;
- The biome loses resilience in the face of climate change, making Brazil more vulnerable to extreme events.
This situation is very sad, let's be optimistic and believe that the situation will improve.