Conservation of Araucaria forests in Southern Brazil

Strengthening threatened tree species diversity and reduce their extinction risk within the Araucaria Forests in southern Brazil

Partner: Sociedade Chauá
Years: 2023-2026

This project capitalises on previous efforts led by Chauá to conserve the Araucaria forests of southern Brazil, one of the most degraded ecosystems on the planet. It will increase the diversity and seedlings production to scale up restoration of these important habitats.

Nothofagus The goal of this project is to georeference and protect at least one thousand new mother trees to scale up Chauá’s seed collection efforts and to increase the seedlings genetic diversity of several threatened tree species such as Trithrinax acanthocoma (DD) and Butia eriospatha (VU), both threatened endemic palm trees used in their restoration work. It aims also to collect genetic samples from several other Butia genus species, in order to develop the best conservation strategies, and evaluate genetic diversity of other Critically Endangered tree species that Chauá tries to rescue from extinction. Additionally, their nursery infrastructure will increase by 25% its annual seedlings production, and they will allocate 30,000 seedlings of at least 120 tree species to local partners (including state institutions) to increase tree species diversity in restoration projects. The data from all the project activities will be compiled into scientific papers and technical briefs including propagation protocols, best practices to restore native forests and species information useful for restoration partitioners. Additionally, awareness raising events will be organized every year, including crowdfunding efforts, mixing sports competitions, planting activities, and plant fairs, attracting diverse publics to the nature conservation theme.