Scientific expedition to the far south of Bahia generates knowledge for the conservation of Brazilian biodiversity

By Gláucia Crispim Ferreira, Carlos Ferreira & Eduardo Fernandez

From August 16 to 30, the National Center for Flora Conservation (CNCFlora) of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Research Institute (JBRJ) carried out a scientific expedition in the extreme south of Bahia. This initiative is part of the implementation of the recently launched National Action Plan for the Conservation of Endangered Trees in Southern Bahia (PAN Hileia Baiana), under the GEF Pro-Species Project: everyone against extinction.

The expedition covered four municipalities in Bahia - Prado, Porto Seguro, Itamaraju and Guaratinga - and included visits to critical areas for regional conservation, such as the Descobrimento National Park, the Monte Pascoal National and Historical Park, the Alto Cariri National Park, the Pedra Bonita Settlement, the Pau Brasil Settlement and the Guaratinga Inselbergs (Rock Outcrops).

The extreme southern region of Bahia faces a series of complex and interconnected threats, including historical and current deforestation due to agricultural expansion, logging, selective logging of high-value timber species, and territorial conflicts. Other challenges include the expansion of cattle ranching, eucalyptus forestry, disorderly urban growth and unregulated tourism, especially in coastal municipalities, all of which exacerbate the pressure on the region's natural resources.

The expedition documented the severe pressure exerted by monocultures and pastures on natural formations, representing a significant threat to native and endangered species, including in areas close to Conservation Units. In this context, the region's Conservation Units are critical refuges for biodiversity conservation, preserving true islands of natural vegetation amid the growing degradation of the surrounding areas.

Despite the existence of the National Action Plan (PAN) for the conservation of endangered species in the region, the researchers believe that it is imperative to strengthen protection measures, such as expanding restoration projects, adopting sustainable agricultural practices, creating ecological corridors to connect Conservation Units and improving enforcement against illegal activities.

At the end of the expedition, approximately 650 plant samples were collected, which will be incorporated into the RB herbarium and duplicates shared with other herbaria. In addition, tissue samples were collected for molecular biology studies and specimens for cultivation (in line with the actions planned in the PAN), representing a rich diversity of 75 botanical families. Some as yet unidentified samples may even reveal new species to science or new occurrences of species previously unknown to the region. The data collected on the expedition thus contributes to knowledge of the national flora and to conservation strategies in the context of the PAN Hileia Baiana.

Led by Eduardo Fernandez, project coordinator for the Conservation Status Assessment Center (NuAC) at CNCFlora/JBRJ, the team was joined by Gláucia Crispim, a spatial data analyst for conservation, and André Amorim, a professor and researcher at the State University of Santa Cruz, who is the coordinator of various actions planned in the Hileia Baiana PAN, including those related to field activities and active searches for the target species covered by the strategy.

In addition, the team had the collaboration of several local players, including José Lima da Paixão and Lucas Barbosa, from the Arboretum Program for the Conservation and Restoration of Forest Diversity, researcher Rafaela Forzza and the head of PARNA do Descobrimento, Juliana Fukuda, both from the Chico Mendes Institute for Biodiversity Conservation (ICMBio) and who played a key role in the success of the expedition in the Prado and Porto Seguro regions.

Also taking part were analysts Marcio Amparo, Eronaldo, Alino, Lorran and Eides, from PARNA Descobrimento, and researcher Laryssa Negri, from the GEF Pro-Species Project and in charge of eradicating invasive alien species at PARNA Monte Pascoal. Field assistants Antônio, Roberta, Vanda, Valdeci and Claudia, from the Pedra Bonita and Pau-Brasil settlements, and Adriana Prestes and Diego Fernando, from the Alto Cariri/ ICMBio PARNA, all of whom have played key roles in the research and implementation of the conservation actions of the Hileia Baiana PAN, also collaborated with the activities.

 About CNCFlora/JBRJ

The National Center for the Conservation of Flora (CNCFlora), of the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Research Institute (JBRJ), is a national reference in the generation, coordination and dissemination of information related to biodiversity and the conservation of endangered Brazilian flora.

The CNCFlora is in charge of drawing up the list of endangered species of Brazilian flora in collaboration with the Ministry of the Environment (MMA).It is also responsible for formulating and implementing conservation actions in specifically designated areas.

CNCFlora's main missions include coordinating, promoting and contributing to all the necessary conditions aimed at preventing the extinction of species of Brazilian flora. This is done in line with the goals set by the Global Strategy for Plant Conservation (GSPC) and the national mandate to assess the risk of extinction of species of Brazilian flora, with a view to building the National Red List.

CNCFlora also coordinates the preparation of action plans and the identification of priority areas for the conservation of endangered species. It also carries out scientific expeditions to collect primary data in regions considered a priority for the conservation of Brazilian flora.

 About the PAN Hileia Baiana

In an important milestone for biodiversity conservation, the National Action Plan for the Conservation of Endangered Trees of Southern Bahia (PAN Hileia Baiana) has been officially published. This plan, which will run until 2028, is an initiative coordinated by the Rio de Janeiro Botanical Garden Research Institute (JBRJ) and aims to increase conservation and knowledge of the target species and their environments in the Hileia Baiana region.

To achieve this ambitious goal, the PAN establishes 31 conservation actions divided into four specific objectives covering topics such as: research and monitoring, training and communication, management and conservation and public policies. These actions will be carried out by 19 coordinators and will have the support of 118 collaborators.

The Hileia Baiana region, known for its biological richness and high species diversity, is home to numerous endangered trees and 21 species classified as Critically Endangered. The PAN Hileia Baiana represents a joint effort by various institutions, including companies, research organizations, government bodies and civil society, to guarantee the survival of these precious species and preserve the natural heritage of the Atlantic Forest in the southern region of Bahia.

 National Action Plans

Each National Action Plan for the Conservation of Endangered Species (PAN) is a participatory management and public policy instrument for planning and prioritizing actions for the conservation of biodiversity and its natural environments, with an established objective over a defined time horizon.

Strategies are defined based on an analysis of the main threats contributing to the decline in populations of species classified as endangered. In this way, the PANs have the potential to promote sustainable development, research, environmental education, ecosystem conservation, population recovery and, consequently, a reduction in the risk of extinction.

Initiatives such as Pro-Species help to conserve Brazilian biodiversity. The project is coordinated by the MMA, financed by the Global Environment Facility Trust Fund (GEF), implemented by the Brazilian Biodiversity Fund (Funbio) and has WWF-Brazil as the executing agency. The proposal is to implement public policies aimed at the conservation of at least 290 Brazilian species categorized as endangered and to leverage initiatives that reduce threats to the country's fauna and flora.