In order to protect biological and socio-cultural diversity, Brazil has established an extensive network of protected areas which covers more than 2 million km2 (25% of Brazil’s national territory) and is divided almost equally between protected natural areas or conservation units and indigenous land (Terras Indígenas).

For surveillance, the Força Aérea Brasileira has been using aircrafts, as part of the Sistema de Vigilância da Amazônia (SIVAM) program, to monitor the illegal logging or burning of the Amazon.

From 2002 to 2006, the protected land in the Amazon Rainforest has almost tripled, and deforestation rates have dropped up to 60%. About 1,000,000 square kilometres (390,000 sq mi), have been put onto some type of conservation, which adds up to a current amount of 1,730,000 square kilometres (670,000 sq mi).

Conservation Issues

More than one-fifth of the Amazon Rainforest in Brazil has been completely destroyed, and more than 70 mammals are endangered. The threat of extinction comes from several sources, including deforestation and poaching. Extinction is even more problematic in the Atlantic Forest, where nearly 93% of the forest has been cleared. Of the 202 endangered animals in Brazil, 171 are in the Atlantic Forest.

Deforestation

Brazil’s environment is under threat because of the rapid economic and demographic rise. Extensive legal and illegal logging destroys forests the size of a small country per year, and with it a diverse series of species through habitat destruction and habitat fragmentation. Since 1970, over 600,000 square kilometers (232,000 square miles) of the Amazon Rainforest have been cleared by logging.

Between 2002 and 2006, an area of the Amazon the size of South Carolina was deforested for the purposes of raising cattle, growing soybeans and cutting timber. By 2020, it is estimated that at least 50% of the species resident in Brazil will become extinct.

See Also: Environment | Deforestation

Poaching

According to a 2001 report by Rede Nacional de Combate ao Tráfico de Animais Silvestres, or RENCTAS, (Portuguese for “National Network Against the Trafficking of Wild Animals”), wildlife smuggling is Brazil’s third most profitable illegal activity, after arms dealing and drug smuggling.

RENCTAS believes that the poachers are taking an estimated 38 million birds, animals and reptiles from the wild each year.

Conflict with Ranchers

Brazilian environmental activists Wilson Pinheiro and Chico Mendes were murdered in disputes with other local ranchers in 1980 and 1988, respectively.

In 2005, Dorothy Stang, a 73-year-old American nun, was murdered in a dispute with a local rancher. Stang wanted to preserve a swath of the rainforest, where the rancher wanted to raise cattle.

Invasive Species

Native wildlife are threatened by some invasive species. There have been more than 300 documented invasive species in Brazil. It is estimated that invasive species cost Brazil around $49 billion. The most threatening species is the wild boar which destroys crops and natural flora, and can transmit diseases to indigenous animals.

Also damaging the natural habitat are African grasses and snails. The Brazilian Institute of Environment and Renewable Natural Resources (IBAMA) has put restrictions on what species may be brought into the country.

Economic Benefits

Environmentalists have stated there is not only a biological incentive to protecting the rainforest, but an economic one as well.

One hectare of the Amazon Rainforest has been calculated to have a value of $6820 if intact forest is sustainably harvested for fruits, latex, and timber; $1000 if clear-cut for commercial timber (not sustainably harvested); or $148 if used as cattle pasture.

National Parks

The system of national parks in Brazil started in 1937 with the creation of Itatiaia National Park. Another two national parks have been created in 1939, and after a period of 20 years, the program of park creation has been restarted. Since than the number of parks increased steadily to 33 by 1990 and 67 by 2010.

The size of the parks varies vastly between the 3,300 ha Tijuca National Park and the 3,800,000 ha Tumucumaque National Park.

Of the 67 national parks, 19 are protecting an area representing 5% of the original Amazon Rainforest and another 22 protect 1% of the original Atlantic Forest. Seven parks are protecting the Caatinga ecoregion and twelve the Cerrado ecoregion. There are only six coastal and marine parks, one protecting the Pantanal wetland and none which would protect the Pampas.

Only parks with a management plan and a public use plan can be accessed by visitors. By 2010 only 30 parks were accessible to the public. Of these the two most visited were the Tijuca National Park with 1.7 million visitors and the Iguaçu National Park with 1 million visitors, together accounting for 71% of all visitors to national parks in Brazil in 2009.