A Future for Endangered Species?

Inhotim combines conservation and scientific research to ensure that endangered plants have a future. This brief history of some Atlantic Forest species in Inhotim's living collection showcases the efforts being made today to curb the loss of biodiversity.

Let's talk about endangered species in the Atlantic Forest. It is one of the most diverse biomes on the planet, but many of its species are at risk due to human actions. Indiscriminate harvesting for logging, food, or crafts has been a threat to several species throughout history, and it can still lead to rapid extinction.

The brazilwood tree extinction risk only began to decrease with sustainable management and the definition of protected areas, which helped to reduce exploitation and preserve the species' habitat. Currently, the species is protected by law in Brazil and its cutting is prohibited.

Extractive practices also threaten another important species of the Atlantic Forest, the juçara palm (Euterpe edulis Mart.). Juçara palm hearts, a food with high commercial value, are extracted from this palm. However, it is not possible to remove these palm hearts without killing the plant, which has put the species at risk of extinction.

For the juçara palm, sustainable management is also an alternative to curb the threat of extinction. Its fruits, similar to açaí, can be produced on a commercial scale and at the same time aid in the recovery of juçara populations, since, in addition to not killing the plant, it enhances the production of seedlings.

However, the exploitation of natural resources goes far beyond the extraction of raw materials. The harvest of plants in the wild for sale in the ornamental market continues to threaten species to this day. Some species are more easily found in private collections than in natural environments, where they are nearly or completely extinct.

This was once the case for Philodendron spiritus-sancti G.S.Bunting, an imbé species endemic to the Brazilian state of Espírito Santo. Its indiscriminate harvest from scarce natural populations almost led to the plant's extinction. On the international market, it has fetched thousands of dollars, which attracted the attention of smugglers and intensified its extraction.

Today, plant propagation is well understood by many growers, making the species common in private collections. As a result, prices have fallen and collection pressure in the wild has been reduced. Despite this, its distribution is very limited, and the number of specimens is low, which classifies it as threatened by the IUCN.

As to the alstroemeria (Alstroemeria caryophyllaea Jacq.), which is highly appreciated and valued in the market for its vibrant, aromatic, and long-lasting flowers, the threats are: very small natural populations combined with the destruction of its habitat by urban expansion.

The role of botanical gardens as guardians of plant biodiversity is also evident, as spaces that combine all these elements to help other species survive into the future.

To wrap up this journey, we suggest you consider the following: protecting biodiversity is more than just preserving living beings. It is preserving the history that each species carries with it over millions of years. It is enabling new discoveries and learning from the intelligence of other species. It is respecting the life and journey of every species on Earth.