Bird Extinctions in Brazil’s Atlantic Forest and How They Can Be Prevented

Abstract

Bird species extinctions in the Atlantic Forest of Brazil have been predicted since the early 1990s, but it has become accepted wisdom that none have yet been documented. We revisit this question in light of updates to the global Red List, and conclude that between five and seven bird species have likely been driven to extinction in the wild in this biome in recent decades, plus a further two species that occurred elsewhere in Brazil. These extinctions were the result of habitat loss in combination with other threats. A further nine Atlantic Forest bird species are Critically Endangered, plus six from elsewhere in Brazil. We review growing efforts to help these species avoid extinction using a range of tools including multi-stakeholder planning, advocacy, habitat protection and restoration on public and private land, focussed research, and intensive population management, drawing on examples from the most threatened Atlantic Forest endemics. Conservation organisations, local communities, government agencies, zoos, international funders, universities and others are working together to prevent these species from disappearing. While the political environment in Brazil has rarely been more hostile to conservation, there are also some positive trends. Rates of deforestation in the Atlantic Forest have fallen, forest restoration and recovery is increasing, and an unprecedented number of ordinary people are taking an interest in birds and participating in citizen science. With dedication, collaboration, sufficient resources, and a focus on evidence-informed solutions, we are hopeful that many of the Critically Endangered species can be pulled back from the brink of extinction.

An annotated avian inventory of the Brazilian state of Alagoas, one of the world’s most threatened avifauna

“…fasciolata (Lees & Pimm, 2015), are traces of this putative richer avifauna. Many other recent and ongoing extinctions in the region seem to be just the tip of the iceberg, given that we may have already reached a point of no return for many other birds, such as Trogon muriciensis, Sclerurus caudacutus caligineus and Myrmotherula snowi (but see a more optimistic view in Develey & Phalan, 2021). Many bird taxa endemic to the PCE and isolated populations from otherwise typical Amazonian taxa (e.g., Crypturellus strigulosus) are in the very verge of extinction.…”

Forest regeneration may reduce the negative impacts of climate change on the biodiversity of a tropical hotspot

“…In our study, some severely devastated regions that presented comparatively fewer potential species richness in all scenarios are relevant for the conservation of tropical biodiversity, as the Pernambuco Endemism Center in BAF (PEC; Figure 3). PEC is remarkable for its endemism of birds, mammals, and other groups, harbouring several species on the brink of extinction (Develey & Phalan, 2021; Garbino et al, 2018; Pizo & Tonetti, 2020). Therefore, when planning natural forest regeneration in large scales based on seed dispersal, it might be important to use restoration techniques beyond passive restoration to increase the amount of forest in landscapes with low amount of remaining forest (such as the PEC).…”

“…From these 252 species, except for six species that may zero their potential distribution areas with climate change regardless of the landscape scenario, the remaining species might increase their area of occurrence with forest regeneration. Several tropical forest species of birds and arboreal mammals, including endemic species, tolerate fragmented and secondary forests (Develey & Phalan, 2021; Pizo & Tonetti, 2020), which suggests that the regenerated environments could be used for many of the studied taxa (but see Santos, Bailey, et al, 2019).…”

Sexagem molecular em araras vermelhas e Centros de Triagem de Animais Silvestres: Revisão

“…A principal causa de extinção de aves na Mata Atlântica é a perda de habitat, o que comumente encontra-se relacionado à agricultura, urbanização e exploração madeireira (Develey & Phalan, 2021). Após a perda de habitat, tem-se o tráfico de fauna silvestre, como uma das grandes ameaças à conservação da avifauna nativa (Destro et al, 2012).…”