Araucaria: A Living Fossil Threatened with Extinction

Few plants look more prehistoric than those of the genus Araucaria. The fossil record shows that its species outlived the dinosaurs and have hardly changed in the last 200 million years.

Some species have canopies shaped like candelabras or umbrellas,

Currently, the genus has 20 species found in isolated areas of the Southern Hemisphere, with New Caledonia being home to over half of these species.

In Brazil, there is the Araucaria angustifolia, also known as the Brazilian Pine or Paraná Pine.

During his famous travels in Brazil (1817-1820), the botanist von Martius traveled through various places where he saw araucarias. Details about these travels can be found in the first volume of Flora Brasiliensis.

The previous engraving (lithograph no. 5) illustrates what the Campos Gerais of São Paulo looked like, while the engraving on this screen (lithograph no. 39) depicts a primeval forest in Minas Gerais.

Pine nuts are a valuable food source for various bird and mammal species, such as crows, parrots, wild pigs, rodents, and howler monkeys. Moreover, it is estimated that around 3,400 metric tons of seeds are consumed by humans annually.

However, the negative human impact on the araucaria extends beyond just seed consumption. The rampant search for wood has destroyed 97% of its original cover, which spanned 200,000 km² when Martius visited Brazil.

Deforestation and climate change continue to pose significant risks to the species. According to the International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources (IUCN), the species is Critically Endangered.

Recently, governments, the private sector, and civil society have been striving to change this scenario. Some initiatives aim to encourage new plantations and the possibility of using and generating income from the species, an approach known as “conservation through use”.

Generating environmental services offers a real opportunity to combat destruction. Establishing new Conservation Units and maintaining existing ones are also crucial for the species’ preservation. The future of the araucaria lies in our hands!