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How to reduce threats to a global biodiversity hotspot

Study lauched at COP16 traces the baselines for the implementation of the GBF
in the Brazilian Atlantic Forest

A journey into forest restoration

A series of reports shows the routine of planting trees on a large scale and unveils
the complexity of restoring forest to the Brazilian Atlantic Rainforest

2023 Annual Report

A look into everything SOS Mata Atlântica did in the last year

A forest ready to store carbon

The Atlantic Forest, a top hotspot for biodiversity conservation, was the first to be deforestated in Brazil, and remains severely threatened. However, its restoration may make a substantial contribution to carbon sequestration and reaching the 1,5ºC goal. Recovering its ecosystem services is critical for the Brazilian economy, people, and the planet. There is a governance framework to achieve it. Reversing its tipping point may become a benchmark for the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration.
Original (light green) and remaining (dark green) area of the Atlantic Forest in Brazil.

Overall data

The Atlantic Forest is a megadiverse tropical forest, among the top 5 biodiversity conservation hotspots in the world. More than 90% of the biome is inside Brazil, but it is also present in Argentina and Paraguay.

It is one of the six biomes of Brazil, which also include: Amazon, Caatinga, Cerrado, Pampa and Pantanal.

It occupies 15% of the Brazilian territory, being present in 3,429 municipalities of 17 States of the country. Its original area was 3.6 times larger than Germany.

The Atlantic Forest covers nine of the 12 Brazilian hydrographic regions and many of its rivers have problems of water quantity and quality, although they supply most of the national population and industry.

Its home to 70% of the Brazilian population (145 million 
 people) and 80% of the national GPD.

The Atlantic Forest and the Amazon are the Brazilian biomes with predominance of moist tropical forests. The Amazon occurs mostly in the Basin of the Amazon river while the Atlantic Forest is mainly present in the coastal region and Southern inland regions of Brazil.

It is the main agriculture region of Brazil and produces most of the staple crops and food consumed internally. The Atlantic Forest is also responsible for the pollination of  important crops.

Besides its 500 years supplying Europe with goods, today it is connected to the world through the trade of commodities like pulp, sugar, coffee and orange juice. Significant part is certified by green labels like FSC and Rainforest Alliance.

The Atlantic Forest is the biome present in Rio de Janeiro.

Biodiversity in numbers

  • 20,000 species of plants - of which 6 thousand only exist in this biome
  • Around 5 thousand species of trees
  • 384 species of mammals
  • 1025 of birds
  • 719 amphibians
  • 350 fishes
  • 517 reptiles

The golden lion tamarin (Leontopithecus rosalia) is an icon of the biodiversity conservation efforts in the Atlantic Forest.
Created in 1986, the SOS Mata Atlântica Foundation is a Brazilian nonprofit environmental organization with a mission to inspire society in defense of the Atlantic Forest.
We work to promote public policies and protect the forest through biome monitoring, research studies, pilot projects, dialogue with the public and private sectors, improvements to environmental legislation, and communication. We also push for society’s engagement with the Atlantic Forest and other causes, such as climate change, forest restoration, the protection of biodiversity, and the right to clean water.
The Forest Restoration initiatives of SOS Mata Atlântica are among those that have contributed the most to rehabilitating the forest in Brazil, with over 43 million native trees planted.
We're supporting partners of the UN Decade on Ecosystem Restoration, which elected the Atlantic Forest as one of the first 10 flagships of this global effort.
Our tree nursery has the capacity to produce 750 thousand seedlings per year, of around 110 native species.
In the 28 years working with this cause, we've srtated the process of restoration of almost 25,000 hectares, in partnership with over 1,700 companies.
The Atlantic Forest is top biodiversity hotspot for three reasons: the number of species found in it; how many are endemic (only exist in this biome); and the degree of endengerment of the ecossystem.
One strategy to safeguard natural and socio-cultural heritage is to create Conservation Units, better known as parks and reserves, which are legally protected areas.
SOS Mata Atlântica has already supported over 500 Conservation Units in forest, coastal, and marine areas, with an investment of ver R$ 15 million.
These programs are designed to facilitated the work of public and private managers of such protected areas.
35 million Brazilians do not have access to clean water, only 46% of sewage in the country is treated, and more than 60% of the diseases that lead to hospitalizations in the public health system are due to contaminated water.
Through projects, campaigns, and other initiatives, we monitor water quality and work towards strengthening the laws that protect our rivers.
This is done with the help of 2,700 volunteers across the country, who conduct monthly analyses of the Water Quality Index in several rivers of the Atlantic Forest.