The Southern Atlantic forest: Use, degradation, and perspectives for conservation

Abstract

The southern Atlantic Forest comprises tropical dense, seasonal, and mixed forests, occurring south of the Doce River in S and SE Brazil, NE Argentina, and SE Paraguay. These forests harbor high biodiversity but have been severely degraded along the centuries following the arrival of Europeans to South America. We revisit the history of use and degradation of the southern Atlantic Forest, identifying commonalities and idiosyncrasies among its forest types. We also discuss the role of protected areas, sustainable use of the forest, and restoration to indicate trends and challenges for the conservation of the remaining and future forests.