Challenges and opportunities for biodiversity conservation in the Atlantic forest in face of bioethanol expansion

Abstract

Brazil is the world's largest producer of sugarcane ethanol, an alternative to gasoline. International oil companies are aware of the potential of Brazilian ethanol and are investing in the production and expansion of sugarcane plantations in the country. The growing ethanol market imposes important conservation challenges on Brazil to meet increasing demand. The market points to an expansion of sugarcane crops, but this can be extremely harmful to biodiversity conservation in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest. The impact of such expansion will be particularly severe in the Brazilian states of Alagoas, Pernambuco, Paraíba and Rio Grande do Norte, which together form the second largest sugar-ethanol production region in the country and one of the most globally threatened areas of tropical forest (only 12% remaining, ~ 1% legally protected), with most forest fragments smaller than 100 ha and several endemic species on the verge of extinction. Here we advocate that instead of expanding plantations in those states, increasing crop productivity is the more logical and environmentally-friendly solution for that region. This report emphasizes the need to increase the number of sugar and ethanol companies following best management practices and to adapt such practices to restore biodiversity and environmental services within threatened ecosystems. Particularly, companies should guarantee the protection of habitats beyond the protection area imposed by current environmental law. © Enrico Bernard, Felipe P. L. Melo and Severino R. R. Pinto.