Brazilian Reserve Research Articles

Joining forces to fight wildfires: Science and management in a protected area of Pantanal, Brazil

In 2020, the world’s largest continuous stretch of wetlands, the Pantanal in South America, recorded its most catastrophic fire season of the last two decades, resulting in severe economic, ecological and health consequences. Regional environmental institutions and communities are taking measures to protect their unique ecosystem, as is the case of the Reserva Particular do Patrimônio Natural (RPPN) Sesc Pantanal, a national protected area. The reserve was severely affected by the 2020 wildfires and is now en route to recover and intensify prevention strategies. Here, we employ a state-of-the-art satellite-derived burned area dataset and a global climate reanalysis product to map and assess the incidence and vulnerability of this reserve to its most concerning disturbance: wildfires. We validated the remote-sensed burned area product and found that the product successfully maps the years with higher fire activity. Then, we studied historical occurrences of burned areas within the reserve. The results show large burned areas are uncommon, and highlight the year 2020 as an outlier, when around 65 % of the reserve was burned. Climate trends over the last four decades show increasing temperatures and wind speed, and decreasing relative humidity and precipitation. Fire weather is thus steadily rising, bearing favourable conditions for fire activity over the most critical months of the year. This study provides useful information for fire management decisions within the largest privately held natural reserve in Brazil, and further allows the assessment of the applicability and limitations of large-scale and state-of-the-art products to inform decision-making within protected areas.

Do Remittances and Financial Development Promote International Reserves in BRICS Economies?

The international reserves reflect the economy’s strength by honoring its financial liabilities. Hence, this paper analyzed the effect of remittances and financial development on international reserves in Brazil, Russia, India, China, and South Africa (BRICS) economies from 1960 to 2022. By employing econometric analysis, the paper reveals a significant and positive influence of remittances and financial development on international reserves. In addition, we reveal a positive and significant association between remittances and financial development and international reserves in the long run. Further, a short-run relationship exists between financial development and international reserves.

Abundance of Leishmania (Kinetoplastida: Trypanosomatidae) vectors in Baldim, a municipality in the Espinhaço Range Biosphere Reserve in Brazil.

Leishmaniasis is a zoonoses caused by protozoan parasites belonging to the Leishmania genus that is transmitted to humans through the bite of previously infected phlebotomine sandflies (Diptera:Psychodidae:Phlebotominae). In Brazil, 2 types of leishmaniasis are endemic, tegumentary leishmaniasis (TL) and visceral leishmaniasis (VL). In Baldim, a municipality in the Espinhaço Range Biospere Reserve (ERBR), 5 autochthonous cases of TL, and one autochthonous case of VL were reported from 2017 to 2022. Owing to the lack of data on entomological fauna, we surveyed the occurrence and distribution of phlebotomine sandflies that could act as Leishmania vectors, as well as natural Leishmania infection. During 1 year, 918 sandfly specimens belonging to 12 species were collected. The predominant species was Lutzomyia longipalpis (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (32.0%), a proven VL agent, followed by Evandromyia evandroi (Costa Lima & Antunes, 1936) (20.7%), Evandromyia cortelezzii (Brèthes, 1923) (17.0%), Nyssomyia whitmani (Antunes & Coutinho, 1939) (12.2%), and Nyssomyia intermedia (Lutz & Neiva, 1912) (10.5%), all putative or proven TL agents. Seasonal fluctuations and endo-exophilic behavior were delineated for the main phlebotomine sandflies. The population of Lu. longipalpis was higher during the coolest and driest months, although different profiles were noted for the other species. Natural Leishmania infection was not detected in any of the 197 phlebotomine sandfly females analyzed. The results were compared with those previously obtained in other municipalities belonging to the ERBR. The presence of Leishmania vectors and human cases of leishmaniasis indicate a risk of Leishmania transmission in the region.

Indigenously controlled tourism as struggle for autonomy: the Pataxó Jaqueira Reserve in Brazil

This study analyses the emblematic experience of an indigenous group in Brazil, the Pataxó, who was able to set up and exercise strong control over an indigenous tourism project: the Jaqueira Reserve. Based on document analysis, interviews, and observations, we show how the Jaqueira Reserve was consolidated not only as a strongly autonomous initiative but also as constituent of a greater quest for autonomy (to craft aspired livelihoods conducive to cultural revitalization and environmental protection). The Pataxó experience shows that indigenous tourism can be an instrument in greater indigenous struggles, and as such can develop not only despite marginalization but also against it.

Empowering Riverine Communities in the Amazon: Strategies for Preventing Rabies.

Rabies, caused by the Lyssavirus genus, is a highly lethal zoonotic disease transmitted by animals such as bats and domestic and wild carnivores to humans, claiming nearly 100% of lives. In Brazil, recent evidence suggests an increasing role of bats in human deaths from rabies, particularly in the Amazon region. This neglected tropical disease disproportionately affects impoverished and vulnerable populations in rural areas, where approximately 80% of human cases are concentrated. This article presents research conducted in riverine communities of the Tapajós/Arapiuns Extractive Reserve in Brazil to combat rabies in September 2022. The study adopted a participatory and collaborative approach, involving community members, healthcare professionals, and educators. Prioritizing proactive interventions, the health team administered prophylactic vaccinations to 30 individuals residing in communities exposed to the Lyssavirus. Educational activities focused on dispelling myths and raising awareness about preventive measures, with 100% of individuals reporting prior doubts about the disease, emphasizing the essential nature of the clarification, especially regarding preventive aspects. This study underscores the importance of community involvement, personalized interventions, and ongoing education to effectively combat rabies. By reinforcing public health policies and promoting health education, we can empower communities to take proactive measures in rabies prevention, leading to a reduction in incidence and an improvement in quality of life.

Range extension of the Asian green mussel Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758) into a Marine Extractive Reserve in Brazil

Range extension of the Asian green mussel Perna viridis (Linnaeus, 1758) into a Marine Extractive Reserve in Brazil

Non-linear growth models for tree species used for forest restoration in Brazilian Amazon Arc of Deforestation

The large amount of degraded areas and productive potential of the legal reserves in Brazil make restoration an environmental demand and a commercial opportunity. We modelled the diameter growth as a function of age of eight tree species in restoration plantations in the Brazilian Amazon. From 14 years of annual forest inventory data, for each species, we tested variations of logistic function: simple logistic, logistic with covariant (plant area at the time of planting), logistic with random effect, logistic with random effect and covariant. Amongst the studied species, Schizolobium parahyba var. amazonicum, Tectona grandis and Simarouba amara showed the highest growth rates while Cordia alliodora, Cedrela odorata and three species of the genus Handroanthus showed slower growth. The gains from using the covariant in modeling were small for both fixed and mixed-effect models. Gains from the inclusion of the random effect were substantial. Mixed-effect models had the best performance in modeling the growth of the species. Our results provide basis for a critical view of the criteria and possibilities for degraded areas restoration and management practices in legal reserves of the Amazon. An economic analysis is required to ensure the viability of these areas’ sustainable exploitation.

Urinary Pb levels in schoolchildren from the largest coal mining area in Brazil and its associated factors: a cross-sectional study.

Candiota region has the largest coal reserve in Brazil, and previous studies have shown moderate-high levels of metals in the environment, including Pb. On the other hand, there are no studies investigating the factors associated with high levels of urinary Pb in children in the region. To investigate this issue, a cross-sectional study was conducted with 92 schoolchildren from 7 cities comprising this coal-mining region. Socioeconomic and demographic information and parental life habits and children's health information were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. Diurnal urine samples were collected to quantify Pb levels (µg/g creatinine). Bi- and multivariate Poisson regression with a robust estimator was used to assess factors associated with high levels of Pb. Urinary Pb levels in children in the region vary from not detected to 21.6µg/g of creatinine. The spatial distribution of urinary Pb levels in children indicated an influence of proximity to mining areas, and this factor was confirmed by Poisson regression analysis (bivariate). Other factors associated with high levels of urinary Pb were non-white mothers, paternal occupational exposure, and low BMI. The findings of this study reveal that the Candiota region is a hotspot for high levels of urinary Pb in children (geometric mean: 3.82µg/g creatinine) and that, in addition to the proximity to mining areas, factors socioeconomic and health conditions may be associated with these high levels.

Instrumentos de comando e controle para a conservação da natureza em terras privadas sempre fracassam?

Abstract Command and control instruments for the conservation of nature on private property are widely considered to be costly and inefficient at achieving significant conservation. In the city of Bonito (MS), an initiative called “Projeto Formoso Vivo”, aimed at the protection of native vegetation, sought to promote rural techniques that significantly aid the protection and restoration of Permanent Preservation Areas and Legal Reserves in Brazil. The aim of this article is to analyze the reach of this project from landholders’ perspective, focusing on the adequacy of rural properties to the current legal-environmental regime for native vegetation protection. Qualitative analysis was conducted through a series of interviews to gauge respondent’s perceptions of the “Projeto Formoso Vivo” initiative. Results show that all respondents recognized the importance of the project and consider it possible to reconcile the economic value of private properties with the requirements of areas destined for conservation.

From self-governance to shared governance: Institutional change and bricolage in Brazilian extractive reserves

Institutional Bricolage can be a useful concept to understand how institutional change has occurred in natural resource governance. As an adaptive process, agents involved in governance blend rules, traditions, norms, symbolisms, and authority relationships, modifying old arrangements and inventing new ones. In this paper, we use the concept of Institutional Bricolage to analyze how institutional change has occurred during the implementation of marine extractive reserves in Brazil. We present examples of institutional adjustments, when formal or bureaucratic institutions interact with those socially built, in process of aggregation, alteration and/or articulation. We also discuss the influence of power, political and party dynamics on shared governance, and bring reflections on the governance of protected areas through the lens of Critical Institutionalism. Our findings reveal the importance of more flexible institutional designs, exploring questions that may guide a new research agenda on community conservation that is more coherent with local realities.

The effects of high-severity fires on the arboreal ant community of a Neotropical savanna.

Fire-suppression is of concern in fire-prone ecosystems because it can result in the loss of endemic species. Suppressing fires also causes a build-up of flammable biomass, increasing the risk of severe fires. Using a Before-After, Control-Impacted design, we assessed the consequences of high-severity fires on Neotropical savanna arboreal ant communities. Over a 9-year period, we sampled the ant fauna of the same trees before and after two severe fires that hit a savanna reserve in Brazil and the trees from an unburned savanna site that served as a temporal control. The ant community associated with the unburned trees was relatively stable, with no significant temporal variation in species richness and only a few species changing in abundance over time. In contrast, we found a strong decline in species richness and marked changes in species composition in the burned trees, with some species becoming more prevalent and many becoming rare or locally extinct. The dissimilarity in species richness and composition was significantly smaller between the two pre-fire surveys than between the pre- and post-fire surveys. Fire-induced changes were much more marked among species with strictly arboreal nesting habits, and therefore more susceptible to the direct effects of fire. The decline of some of the ecologically dominant arboreal ant species may be particularly important, as it opens substantial ecological space for cascading community-wide changes. In particular, severe fires appear to disrupt the typical vertical stratification between the arboreal and ground-dwelling faunas, which might lead to homogenization of the overall ant community.

Bat assemblage at a high diversity locality in the Atlantic Forest

The Estação Biológica Santa Lúcia (EBSL) is one of the oldest reserves in Brazil, used as a research site since 1939 by the naturalist Augusto Ruschi. It is an Atlantic Forest fragment, and its fauna and flora have been studied throughout the years. However, its chiropteran fauna remains virtually unknown. Here, we aim to provide a bat species list for EBSL. We installed mist-nets over 19 nights from mid-2009 to mid-2010, with a sampling effort of 20 875.5 m2.h. We captured 204 specimens, from two families and 22 species. Ecological analysis reveals a medium to high diversity, heavily dominated by frugivorous species. The collector’s curve and the estimative of species richness suggests that the chiropteran fauna at EBSL remains partially unknown, and we encourage further inventories.

Protected area evaluation for the conservation of endangered Amazon river dolphins (Inia geoffrensis)

The potential value of protected areas for the conservation of cetaceans is widely recognized; however, few evaluation methods exist to assess their effectiveness. In this study, a modeling approach based on long-term mark-recapture/resight data was used to assess the effectiveness of a Brazilian reserve in protecting endangered Amazon River dolphins or boto (Inia geoffrensis), a species killed for use as fish bait. We built an annual discrete-time model with subdivisions based on hydrological periods and age classes. It included transition probabilities in and out of the reserve that were estimated utilizing multi-state mark-recapture models. To evaluate five reserve configurations, we re-estimated the transition probabilities to represent changes in the reserve boundaries. Model predictions showed that four scenarios, including one representing the existing boundaries, would be insufficient to protect the local boto population (no = 528) and a steep decline in abundance would occur in the next 50 years (0 ≤ n50 ≤ 108). However, one reserve configuration, encompassing both flooded forests and adjacent river habitats, and including beaches and channel/floodplain entrances, resulted in a nearly stable population in the same time frame (n50 = 515). These findings suggest that, with careful design and efficient management, protected areas could be an effective conservation tool for boto populations that exhibit site fidelity to Amazonian floodplains. With appropriate mark-recapture/resight data, the modeling framework employed could be extended to evaluate and design protected areas for populations of other species in other systems.

Negotiating with Indigenous Peoples: Land Area Acquisition for the Fulkaxó Reserve in Brazil

Negotiating with Indigenous Peoples: Land Area Acquisition for the Fulkaxó Reserve in Brazil

Brazilian offshore oil exploration areas: an overview of hydrocarbon pollution

The basins of Campos and Santos, the most important offshore oil reserves in Brazil, hold potential for being the largest offshore oil exploration fields in the next decades, mainly due to the oil located in the pre-salt layer. This region presents real conditions for the occurrence of intense atmospheric events added to the high velocity of the meanders of the Brazilian current. However, the increasing risk of accidents and damage in the region has been the subject of concern and discussion. The risks in the basins of Campos (2011) and Santos (2012) may not exhibit the the same potential for disastrous events as do those in the oil fields of Alaska and of the Gulf of Mexico, but accidents in these areas are not unlikely, as already evidenced by previous accidents under similar operating conditions (e.g. Chevron Platform accident in Campos Basin, RJ, Brazil, 2011). This paper highlights discussion of the multidisciplinary and substantial environmental features in oil exploration fields along the Brazilian coast based on Semi-Systematic Review methodology. The aspects evaluated cover not only geological traits, oceanic and meteorological circulation, but also current oil production, the most significant oil spill accidents recorded up to 2019 and the discussion about some current levels of seawater contamination.

Análise simplificada do efeito de ações sísmicas em edifícios de concreto armado dimensionados pela norma brasileira

<p class="Normal1"><span>Sismos são eventos naturais, causados principalmente devido ao movimento relativo entre placas tectônicas (sismos interplacas) e em falhas entre blocos rochosos (sismos intraplacas), ou induzidos pela atividade humana. Pode-se observar uma relação entre as regiões situadas em zonas com maior sismicidade e as zonas que estão próximas de várias falhas intraplacas e reservas de gás xisto no Brasil. De acordo com a NBR 15421/2006, essa condição resulta em um mapa de acelerações sísmicas características de projeto. Tais acelerações podem ser usadas para estimar cargas horizontais equivalentes. Entretanto, não é usual a consideração desses efeitos no dimensionamento de edifícios de concreto armado. Diante do exposto, este trabalho tem como objetivo avaliar a estabilidade global de edifícios de concreto armado com diferentes sistemas de contraventamento, sujeitos a acelerações sísmicas previstas na NBR 15421/2006. Inicialmente, a estabilidade global foi verificada considerando-se as ações de vento e desaprumo, além das cargas verticais, por meio do coeficiente γ<sub>z</sub>. Dessa forma, todos os pórticos deste trabalho comportam-se como estruturas de nós fixos (γ<sub>z</sub> ≤ 1,10). Em seguida, as ações de vento foram substituídas por ações sísmicas, pois é improvável a ocorrência simultânea de ambos os eventos. Por fim, a estabilidade global foi reavaliada por meio do coeficiente γ<sub>z</sub>. Com isso, observou-se que os todos os edifícios analisados passaram a se comportar como estruturas de nós móveis (γ<sub>z</sub> > 1,10), ou seja, suscetíveis aos efeitos globais de segunda ordem.</span></p>

Blood markers among residents from a coal mining area

Coal extraction and processing generate environmental contamination, which has several negative impacts on human health. Hematological and biochemical parameters are effective biomarkers of the exposure of a population to air pollutants. Thus, this study aimed to evaluate hematological and biochemical parameters in adult residents in a coal mining region in the largest national reserve in Brazil, as well as to investigate their relations with air quality. The study included three cities in the south of Brazil, which are located near an important power plant and coal mine. The air quality was analyzed by PM10, NOx, and SO2 at five air quality monitoring stations, socioeconomic and demographic characteristics were evaluated with a questionnaire, and biochemical parameters were assessed in blood samples. The mean PM10 in the study area was 19.18μg/m3. The air quality varied among the five monitoring stations, and the Candiota station exceeded the reference limit by 63.3%. In general, participants had lived more than 10years in the municipality and had hepatic and renal parameters within the reference values. A higher prevalence of alterations was found in hematological parameters (43.1%) and liver function (30%). Among the three cities, the population of Pedras Altas seems to have a greater impairment of the blood parameters evaluated. The only parameter that was correlated with PM10 was the hematocrit level (r = 0.33; P < 0.001).

Determinants of foreign exchange reserves in Brazil: An empirical investigation

This paper examines the determinants of foreign exchange reserves of Brazil for the period 1960–2018. We use empirically robust auto‐regressive distributed lag (ARDL) bounds testing methodology to trace the determinants of foreign exchange reserves of Brazil. We incorporate other relevant variables in the model such as current account balance to GDP ratio, debt to GDP ratio, domestic credit to the private sector as a percentage of GDP, exchange rate, inflation, per capita GDP and real interest rate with foreign exchange reserves in impacting its size in Brazil. We find that long‐run relationship exists between foreign exchange reserves, current account balance to GDP ratio, debt to GDP ratio, domestic credit to the private sector as a percentage of GDP, exchange rate, inflation, per capita GDP and real interest rate. However, we find that variables under study also have unidirectional short‐run causality. Hence, the policymakers to give special attention to the fact maintain a foreign exchange reserve which is optimum keeping in mind their developmental needs.

Helminth metacommunity of small mammals in a Brazilian reserve: the contribution of environmental variables, host attributes and spatial variables in parasite species abundance

The role of environmental factors and landscape heterogeneity on species distribution on different spatial scales is one of the most important questions in community ecology. Variations in the environmental gradient characteristics, host attributes and spatial scales may influence the parasites distribution. The helminth metacommunity of 12 small mammal species was investigated in an Atlantic Forest reserve located in the State of Rio de Janeiro, southeast Brazil. We evaluated the influence of environmental variables, host attributes and spatial factors on the helminth metacommunity of small mammals, considering infracommunity and component community levels. Twenty-nine helminth morphospecies were recovered. The host attributes and spatial variables influenced the abundance of helminth species in the metacommunities for rodents and marsupials together, and for rodents alone at the infracommunity level. Host body mass, host diet and spatial variables at broad spatial scale (among localities) were the most important variables to explain the variation in helminth abundance. Parasite species richness influenced this variation only for the marsupial helminth metacommunity at the infracommunity level. The metacommunity showed larger turnover (parasite replacement) than nestedness (parasite loss) for their helminth species at both infracommunity and component community levels, which is associated with a high host specificity, and low helminth sharing among hosts for most species, resulting in a structured metacommunity.

Ancient Transformation, Current Conservation: Traditional Forest Management on the Iriri River, Brazilian Amazonia

Legislation governing strict-protection nature reserves in Brazil in principle precludes human habitation, but virtually all Amazon reserves are nonetheless inhabited. Historical ecology research reported herein assesses the impacts of occupation and resource use by beiradeiros (forest peasants) on the forests of a strictly designated nature reserve in the Iriri River basin (Brazilian Amazon). The hypothesis is that traditional beiradeiros activities are congruent with the aims of conservation of the reserve because their impacts are either neutral or enhance diversity of forest landscapes and biota. We designed the methodology underlying data collection to integrate forest inventory with archaeological techniques in two contrasting forest types (terra firme and seasonally inundated forest), faunal surveys, freelisting of tree terms by beiradeiros, and participant observation, in order to determine biological diversity indices, forest age and the parameters of traditional knowledge that encode such diversity in local vocabulary. Our research results lead us to reject the premise that traditional peasant activities lead to ecological degradation or impoverishment, and suggest that the rationale underpinning strictly protected nature reserves should be re-examined.