Paraná Pines on the Verge of Extinction

• Atlantic Forest
• Biodiversity of the Tropical Forests
• Biological Diversity
• Caatinga: Biodiversity Under Threat
• Cerrado: Biodiversity Under Threat
• Extinction of Species
  • Bicudinho-do-Brejo
  • City Unites to Save Bird from Extinction
  • Golden Lion Monkeys Continue to Be Threatened
  • Plague of “Cururu” Frogs in Australia
• New Species of Primates Discovered in Brazil
• Paraná Pines on the Verge of Extinction
• The Destruction of Tropical Forests

The story of the araucaria or Paraná pine (Araucaria angustifolia) could be a sad one, with the species becoming extinct after less than a century of exploitation. Situated within the domain of the Atlantic Forest and scientifically classified as a Mixed Rain Forest, the pine forests originally occurred in a continuous area in the region between the states of Rio Grande do Sul and Paraná, with traces in São Paulo and Minas Gerais. These pine forests are now reduced to approximately 1.2% of the original area.

Studies reveal the existence of new varieties or araucaria occurring in different associations with plant species of major economic importance, such as lauraceae, cinnamon, wild pine, sassafras cinnamon and maté herb. The latter also has an environmental value and is exploited in the groves of the forest.

Currently, of the small numbers remaining of Paraná pine forests, only 40,774 hectares are legally protected in seventeen Conservation Units, amounting to a total of 0.22% of the original area.