Rare Trees of the Atlantic Forest of Southern Bahia, Brazil

Wayt Thomas and collaborators

Dr. Wayt Thomas of The New York Botanical Garden is collaborating with Drs. Daniel Piotto and Jomar Jardim of the Federal University of Southern Bahia, Prof. Rui Rocha of the NGO Instituto Floresta Viva, and the Center for Cocoa Research in a project to conserve in situ globally threatened tree species in the Atlantic Coastal Forest in the southern portion of the state of Bahia, Brazil. This region is home to 88 IUCN Red-Listed tree species, and is part of the Atlantic Forest (Mata Atlântica) Biodiversity Hotspot. Southern Bahia is the most critically endangered and diverse area within the hotspot, yet opportunities for in situ conservation of tree species in protected areas and privately held forests still exist. The project will achieve in situ conservation of globally threatened trees in the region through the following activities:

1) Locating existing viable populations of globally threatened tree species;
2) Enriching and enlarging populations of globally threatened tree species through replanting with seedlings grown from locally collected seeds; and
3) Increasing awareness of, commitment to, and knowledge and skills for in situ conservation of globally threatened tree species among local stakeholders (landowners, farmers, nurseries, and communities), as well as the international scientific and conservation communities (including the Global Tree Campaign and related projects), and the general public.