A Quick Look at the Past

The Atlantic Forest and Amazon Rainforest, both located in Brazil, constitute the “Lungs of the World”. In 1500, when the Portuguese arrived in Brazil, the Atlantic Forest stretched the entire 2,000 mile length of Brazil’s eastern seaboard, covering an area twice the size of Texas. It was once the world’s richest biological reserve; it has more plant and tree diversity in 2.5 acres than the entire eastern seaboard of the United States. Today, however, 93% of the Atlantic Forest has been completely destroyed, largely in the last 50 years.

In addition to producing 20 percent of the world’s oxygen the Brazilian rainforests hold the potential, especially as the Atlantic Forest is partially restored, to consume enormous amounts of the world’s carbon emissions.

Forest that has been cleared for cattle grazing

Golden Lion Tamarin, one of the rarest animals on Earth, is native to the Atlantic Forest

The Atlantic Forest is home to over 2,200 species of birds.

Vinaceous Parrot