Biodiversity Hotspots: Brazil Atlantic Forest

Introduction:

                 

              Biodiversity is the variety of life in the world or in a particular ecosystem. It is important because it helps the ecosystems productivity and every species has an important role. My partner and I chose the Brazil Atlantic Forest hot spot. This location is classified as a biodiversity hot spot because it has an extremely diverse mix of vegetation and animals.

Background:

      Brazil's Atlantic Forest is located in the countries of Brazil, Paraguay, and Argentina. Geographically its in the northern part of South America. The Atlantic Forest has a Tropical/ Sub tropical biome. Its primary productivity is at a high level. On average its about 8,800(kcal/m^2/yr.

Discussion:

The forest provides economic services such agriculture for crops like sugar cane,coffee, tea, tobacco, soybeans. The ecological services include habitats for animals, carbon dioxide, and provides food for the animals. Human activities like logging cause environmental degradation by causing an increase in debris along forest floors, which makes it more susceptible to fires. Global economic influences factor in because the native need the trees to build their houses. Environmental degradation has impacted the functional diversity and ecosystem processes of the hot spot by increasing the amount of endangered species, for example the sea turtle. It has also decreased the amount of richness present in the forest. The Bald Uakari is an endangered species that originated in Brazil's Atlantic Forest. Its endangered because they are hunted and used for meat. Another endangered species in this forest is the Brazilian Sideneck Turtle, which is also hunted and used for their meat. Endangered ecosystems are being restored by a group called CI-Brazil. The program has helped more than 30 plant nurseries. It has removed 200,000 tons of carbon dioxide in transit into living biomass because of forest resolution.

          Conclusion:

Brazil's Atlantic forest is a positive example of a biodiversity hot spot.With the locals working to reduce the Co2 in the atmosphere.As well as reduce how many  endangered species are in the region Working together in this region has proved to be extremly helpful in many ways.This type of strategy is a small step to reduce climate change and it necessary to expand this across Brazil and eventually through out the world.All of us must work to ensure the health of the planet.

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http://www.conservation.org/publications/Documents/CI_Brazil_Atlantic-Forest.pdf. Conservation International, 2013. Web. 15 Dec. 2015.

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