Pernambuco coastal forests

The Pernambuco coastal forests is an ecoregion of the Tropical moist broadleaf forests Biome, and the South American Atlantic Forest biome. It is located in northeastern Brazil.

Pernambuco coastal forests
Forest near Recife, Brazil.
Ecology
BiomeAtlantic Forest
BordersPernambuco interior forests, Southern Atlantic mangroves and Caatinga
Bird species407[1]
Mammal species122[1]
Geography
Area17,612 km2 (6,800 sq mi)
Country Brazil
StatesPernambuco, Alagoas and Paraíba
Conservation
Conservation statusCritical/Endangered
Habitat loss96%[2]
Protected0.49%[2]

Geography

The Pernambuco coastal forests occupy an 80 km-wide strip along the Atlantic coast of northeastern Brazil in the states of Pernambuco and Alagoas. The forests extend from near sea level to 600–800 metres (2,000–2,600 ft) in elevation, on the windward slopes of the Borborema Plateau.

The Goiana River of Pernambuco marks the forests' northern extent, and the Mundaú River of Alagoas the southern extent.

The ecoregion is bounded on the east by the Atlantic Ocean and the coastal Atlantic Coast restingas forests and Rio Piranhas mangroves. To the east, the forests transition to the drier Pernambuco interior forests and Caatinga.

Climate

The ecoregion has a tropical climate with annual rainfall ranging from 1,750 to 2,000 mm. There is a dry period from October through January.

Natural history
Pernambuco coastal forest habitat, in Camaragibe.
Alagoas curassow, an extinct in wild species of the forest in Alagoas.

Flora

The four-tiered evergreen Atlantic moist forests are the predominant vegetation type.

Fauna

The ecoregion is an endemic bird area that harbors 13 threatened species of birds. It also harbors the last populations of the red-handed howler monkey (Alouatta belzebul) and blond capuchin (Sapajus flavius) in the Atlantic Forests.

Conservation and threats

Coastal forests in Pernambuco have a long history of deforestation. The first cycle of destruction was due to "Pau-brasil" (Caesalpinia echinata) extraction. After the extraction of Pau-brasil, through the mid-20th century, the sugarcane industry was mainly responsible for the forest clearing.

Forests remnants are small, most with less 10 km² and surrounded by sugarcane fields. There is only 87 km² of isolated conservation units. It isn't an enough amount to maintain biodiversity and key ecological processes.[2] The largest reserve is Murici Ecological Station (6132 ha).[3]

See also

References
  1. Hoekstra, J. M.; Molnar, J. L.; Jennings, M.; Revenga, C.; Spalding, M. D.; Boucher, T. M.; Robertson, J. C.; Heibel, T. J.; Ellison, K. (2010). Molnar, J. L. (ed.). The Atlas of Global Conservation: Changes, Challenges, and Opportunities to Make a Difference. University of California Press. ISBN 978-0-520-26256-0.
  2. "Pernambuco coastal forests". Terrestrial Ecoregions. World Wildlife Fund.
  3. "Official Record for Murici". ProtectedPlanet. Retrieved 2016-03-03.
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