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S. R. Latenek dos Santos et al.
1 Introduction
The Atlantic Forest is one of the richest forests in diversity of species on the planet,
and this biome covers an area of about 15% of the total national territory, where
about 70% of the Brazilian population lives. Today, only 12.4% of the forest that
originally existed still exists, and of these remnants 80% are in private areas (SOS
MATA ATLÂNTICA 2019).
The ecosystems that make up the Atlantic Forest biome play a very important role
in maintaining and balancing for all forms of life that inhabit them, including humans,
who benefit directly from water supply, fertile soil, food pollination, medicines,
whether comfort, protection against extreme events, the provision of resources and
the generation of urban resilience, which fosters development. However, for these
benefits to be provided, natural areas in good repair are necessary.
In a report on this subject, the Gazeta do Povo newspaper stresses that “Every May,
when the Atlantic Forest Day is celebrated, Paraná appears in the not-so-honorable
ranking of states that devastate what is left of this type of native forest. Every year,
positions take turns - Bahia and Minas Gerais alternate the front—but Parana always
shows its presence, as in the most recent Atlas of Remnants, where it is in the third
position. Currently, Paraná is the one that mostly overthrew Atlantic Forest in Brazil”
(Gazeta do Povo 2019).
The United Nations declaration on Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development
states in its paragraph 33 that the new agenda recognizes that economic and
social development depends on the sustainable management of our planet’s natural
resources, deciding to conserve and sustainably use the oceans and seas, freshwater resources, as well as forests, mountains and arid lands and protect biodiversity,
ecosystems and wildlife (United Nations in Brazil 2015).
These data illustrate the importance of the biome for the maintenance of life and, at
the same time, how nature conservation has been neglected in recent decades by some
sectors of society. Traditional development based on deforestation of native forests,
conventional agriculture that poisons soil and food, settling large enterprises that
disrespect nature and culture, pollution and burial of water springs, still generates
many expectations of growth at any costs, or immediate solution to the Brazilian
social illness.
In an attempt to ensure a minimum genetic bank and the benefits generated by
nature to maintain quality of life, the creation of Conservation Units through governmental or private initiatives has been an attempt to curb deforestation and its consequences by legislating on some of the remaining of Mata Atlântica that remained
in the state of Paraná. However, the implantation of protected areas is cited by plots
of politicians, community leaders and residents of the most preserved regions of the
biome as impediments to traditional development, due to restrictions of land use
and occupation. On the other hand, historical lack of effective community participation in the planning and implementation of different categories of Conservation
Units in Brazil fuels rumors, concerns and animosities in the territory, generating
S. R. Latenek dos Santos et al.
1 Introduction
The Atlantic Forest is one of the richest forests in diversity of species on the planet,
and this biome covers an area of about 15% of the total national territory, where
about 70% of the Brazilian population lives. Today, only 12.4% of the forest that
originally existed still exists, and of these remnants 80% are in private areas (SOS
MATA ATLÂNTICA 2019).
The ecosystems that make up the Atlantic Forest biome play a very important role
in maintaining and balancing for all forms of life that inhabit them, including humans,
who benefit directly from water supply, fertile soil, food pollination, medicines,
whether comfort, protection against extreme events, the provision of resources and
the generation of urban resilience, which fosters development. However, for these
benefits to be provided, natural areas in good repair are necessary.
In a report on this subject, the Gazeta do Povo newspaper stresses that “Every May,
when the Atlantic Forest Day is celebrated, Paraná appears in the not-so-honorable
ranking of states that devastate what is left of this type of native forest. Every year,
positions take turns - Bahia and Minas Gerais alternate the front—but Parana always
shows its presence, as in the most recent Atlas of Remnants, where it is in the third
position. Currently, Paraná is the one that mostly overthrew Atlantic Forest in Brazil”
(Gazeta do Povo 2019).
The United Nations declaration on Agenda 2030 for Sustainable Development
states in its paragraph 33 that the new agenda recognizes that economic and
social development depends on the sustainable management of our planet’s natural
resources, deciding to conserve and sustainably use the oceans and seas, freshwater resources, as well as forests, mountains and arid lands and protect biodiversity,
ecosystems and wildlife (United Nations in Brazil 2015).
These data illustrate the importance of the biome for the maintenance of life and, at
the same time, how nature conservation has been neglected in recent decades by some
sectors of society. Traditional development based on deforestation of native forests,
conventional agriculture that poisons soil and food, settling large enterprises that
disrespect nature and culture, pollution and burial of water springs, still generates
many expectations of growth at any costs, or immediate solution to the Brazilian
social illness.
In an attempt to ensure a minimum genetic bank and the benefits generated by
nature to maintain quality of life, the creation of Conservation Units through governmental or private initiatives has been an attempt to curb deforestation and its consequences by legislating on some of the remaining of Mata Atlântica that remained
in the state of Paraná. However, the implantation of protected areas is cited by plots
of politicians, community leaders and residents of the most preserved regions of the
biome as impediments to traditional development, due to restrictions of land use
and occupation. On the other hand, historical lack of effective community participation in the planning and implementation of different categories of Conservation
Units in Brazil fuels rumors, concerns and animosities in the territory, generating