Forêt atlantique – Réserves du sud-est

Photo : Francisco Baraglia (CC BY-SA 4.0)

Located in southeastern Brazil, this natural site encompasses a series of reserves protecting remnants of the Atlantic Forest, one of the world's most threatened tropical forest ecosystems. The reserves preserve distinctive biodiversity characteristic of this biome, which historically covered much of Brazil's Atlantic coast but has been reduced through centuries of human settlement and land conversion. The forested landscape is shaped by the region's topography and climate, supporting flora and fauna adapted to these specific environmental conditions. The site's ecological significance lies in its role as a refuge for species endemic to the Atlantic Forest, many of which face extinction due to habitat loss across the broader region. The reserves represent an important effort to maintain representative examples of this critically endangered ecosystem and the biological communities it sustains. These protected areas contribute to scientific knowledge of tropical forest conservation and the ecological processes necessary for the survival of Atlantic Forest species.