The return of Fauna in a planted forest

Threatened and fragmented, the Atlantic Forest still plays an essential role in the Brazilian biodiversity. The fauna samples of this biome identified at Private Reserve of Natural Heritage Bulcão Farm are important indicators of successful reforesting actions promoted by Instituto Terra in the region. Monitoring proves that living in the new forest are from small invertebrates, such as ants, beetles and butterflies, to even a small family of ocelots (Leopardus pardalis). It is the food chain cycle that has been reestablished helping to complete the biodiversity recovery process in a reforested area.

Among the total number of birds identified in the reforested area of Instituto Terra, six of them are considered to be in vulnerable situation or in danger of extinction.

Some samples of this pure tropical beauty, such as Red-browed Parrot (Amazona rhodocorytha), the Vinaceous Parrot (Amazona vinacea), the Robust Woodpecker (Campephilus robustus), the Bare-throated Bellbird (Procnias nudicollis), the Blue-winged Macaw (Propyrrhura maracana) and the Saffron Finch (Sicalis flaveola).

Seen as good biological indicators of environmental degradation, the birds are examples for the fauna that play this essential ecological role of forest habitats, helping for example with predation, pollination and seed dispersion.

In order to be easier detected, is considered by many researchers a faster and effective way to promote environmental diagnosis or support the monitoring in biological relevant areas as in areas in the recovery process.

Named “night queens”, for having characteristics such as an acute pitch black night vision, owls are found in several biomes of Brazil. In the areas of Atlantic Forest endemic species occur such as the Tawny-browed Owl, having already been registered at Private Reserve of Natural Heritage Bulcão Farm.

Once the landscaping project was made here by Lelia Deluiz Wanick Salgado, architect and co-founder of Instituto Terra, these forests which are in full bloom all year round in the central area of the PRNP Bulcão Farm are today a point of attraction for delicate species such as hummingbirds, who have a key role in the pollination processes.

Predators, rapine birds also act by the estabilization of the ecosystem, favoring the maintenance of diversity rates.

The recovery actions promoted by Instituto Terra go beyond planting trees. It involves the protection against fire and also hunters, as well as environmental education, showing the community around the importance of conservation and recovery of flora and fauna in the region.

Ever since the first plantations of tree seedlings that took place in 1999, the reforesting of Private Reserve of Natural Heritage Bulcão Farm involves every year the greatest diversity of planted species. The trees already grown today ate examples of areas where you may find fauna such as the Southern tamandua.

The Instituto Terra is located in eastern State of Minas Gerais, a privileged Brazilian state for having areas covered by Atlantic Forest biomes, Savanna and scrub-land. All this heterogeneity in ecosystems also manifests in the existence of a wide variety of animals.

In total, 15 species of amphibians and other 16 of reptiles also have been seen and identifies in the reforested area of Private Reserve of Natural Heritage Bulcão Farm, a conservation unit that every year becomes more attractive to receive new and legitimate residents of the Atlantic Forest.