Fiocruz will recover degraded area of ​​the Atlantic Forest in Rio, as a conduct adjustment

“The ecological restoration project will carry out the planting of native species, aiming to reduce the forest edge effect and increase the richness of species with medicinal potential, fruit trees and non-conventional food plants [PANCs], in addition to contributing to the connectivity of fragments forestry and for the conservation of native species of the Atlantic Forest”, explains the project coordinator and PhD in Plant Biology, Andrea Vanini. 

The goal is to increase the number of forest matrices that have already been marked for more than 10 years at the Fiocruz Mata Atlântica Biological Station, to increase the genetic variability of the seedlings produced, searching for endemic species and those threatened with extinction.

“We are going to plant species like Crysophyllum imperiale, known as emperor's fruit (after Dom Pedro I), currently on the list of threatened species, cedar, brazilwood, equitibá-açu, ipês, cutieira, bacupari, jussara palm, etc., which are attractive to native fauna”, explains Vanini.

“These trees provide the food that animals need and, in return, depend on them to disperse their seeds throughout the forest and thus conserve local biodiversity.” 

Recovering what was degraded

The project ecological restoration has the financing of a compensatory measure from the Conduct Adjustment Term of the State Public Prosecutor's Office in partnership with Fiocruz Mata Atlântica.

“The compensatory measure is a penalty that seeks to mitigate the negative environmental impacts that a company has committed. In addition to the planting and management actions of the Atlantic Forest, the project will offer courses on identifying native species, collecting forest seeds and producing seedlings for the community surrounding the Pedra Branca State Park”, highlights Vanini. 

The monitoring of fauna in forest areas already restored by Fiocruz Mata Atlântica, pointed out the presence of elements of wild fauna, such as anteater, tapiti, opossum and paca, animals typical of the native fauna of the Atlantic Forest of Rio de Janeiro.

(Source: Fiocruz Agency)

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