The Forgotten Rainforest of Brazil
The Atlantic Rainforest is one of the most threatened in the world.
When the Portuguese explorers first arrived in 1500 it is estimated that the Atlantic Rainforest occupied an area of about 1.1 million square km running from Recife in the far northeast along the coastline down into Argentina and Paraguay. Since then it has been gradually destroyed through a mixture of urbanisation, industry and agriculture and now only 7% remains. It is no coincidence that 62% of the Brazilian population lives along the Atlantic coastline.
Yet, even today, the spectacular mountain scenery attest to its past glory and the forest still rivals the Amazon in biological diversity. Paraty is home to a particularly rich area of Atlantic Rainforest due to its isolation throughout the 20th Century and over 80% of the municipality is now protected.
Through its work with Agro-forestry and Reforestation the Ferreira family of the Eco-farm has been actively involved in Atlantic Rainforest preservation and sustainability for over 10 years and regularly provides practical experience and training to the local farming community and academic institutions nationwide.
When the Portuguese explorers first arrived in 1500 it is estimated that the Atlantic Rainforest occupied an area of about 1.1 million square km running from Recife in the far northeast along the coastline down into Argentina and Paraguay. Since then it has been gradually destroyed through a mixture of urbanisation, industry and agriculture and now only 7% remains. It is no coincidence that 62% of the Brazilian population lives along the Atlantic coastline.
Yet, even today, the spectacular mountain scenery attest to its past glory and the forest still rivals the Amazon in biological diversity. Paraty is home to a particularly rich area of Atlantic Rainforest due to its isolation throughout the 20th Century and over 80% of the municipality is now protected.
Through its work with Agro-forestry and Reforestation the Ferreira family of the Eco-farm has been actively involved in Atlantic Rainforest preservation and sustainability for over 10 years and regularly provides practical experience and training to the local farming community and academic institutions nationwide.
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Orchids and Bromelias are just some of the flora and fauna seen on the trails in the primary and secondary Rainforest of the Eco-farm
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